We've got more than Danish Culture here

Elk Horn – Riders came through like a long train Monday morning on the day’s first stop in Elk Horn.

Country music blared as folks stopped in the small Iowa town, best known for their large windmill and Danish heritage. Bikes sat parked along large silver poles, acting as racks as they followed their noses to the smell of biscuits, gravy and piping hot pancakes.

A tasty meal and Dutch Culture was not their only greeting, though. A tanned man stood on risers, paint brush in hand, laying out a large veterans memorial as many cyclists stopped for a quick peek at his masterpiece.

Chris Copic, 37, of has been working on a veteran’s memorial mural since last summer, stopping only to return to school at Iowa State, the Elk Horn resident started back up again a few weeks ago and plans to continue through the fall.

A large, white wall is his canvas, located just off the town’s main drag. Hand paintings of soldiers, weapons, planes and ships cover the wall all varying in appearance as they represent different eras, wars and conflicts that make up our nation’s military history.

“It highlights all of the major conflicts,” Copic said. “I wanted to focus on the service men and woman.”

Bikes parked all around the artist’s canvas as riders stopped to stare and ask questions about the mural. One cyclist, Maury Shields, stopped and handed the artist a $5 bill, thanking him for his contribution.

The two men stood talking and admiring the piece for some time.

Shields, a 65-year-old Vietnam Veteran said he really appreciated the piece as a soldier himself and also because his son is and has been serving in Afghanistan for more than four years.

“This just caught my eye and I’m very impressed,” the Fairbank native said.

This is Shields seventh ride. He said this morning ride almost felt like a “first day ride” with all the congestion and people making their way into Elk Horn.

Though seeing the windmill and people roll in was absolutely beautiful, he said.  The partly cloudy skies and cool breeze made for an excellent start.

“It’s amazing,” he said.

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