Former Sgt. Norton Scholarship recipient reaches fundraising goal for mural restoration project

Wyatt Mendel, the former Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial Scholarship recipient who is raising funds to restore the well-known mural of Sgt. Justin Norton, reported that he successfully secured the $3,000 necessary to complete the project.

“I’m thrilled to share an incredible update: our community came together in an extraordinary way, surpassing our goal in record time,” Mendel told the Nisqually Valley News on Thursday, April 17, just hours after launching the fundraising campaign.

Mendel says the mural will be restored by June 24, 2025, the anniversary of Sgt. Justin Norton’s death, with a protective seal coat to keep it graffiti-free.

The mural of Sgt. Norton is located alongside state Route 507 on a lower segment of the train trestle bridge in Rainier.

Mendel said he received donations from Thurston County Commissioner Wayne Fournier, who “rallied his network for additional contributions.”

“Commissioner Fournier’s leadership and our community’s generosity made this possible, showing how much Sgt. Norton’s legacy means to Yelm and Rainier,” Wendel wrote.

Mendel also thanked the gentlemen at Brown and Sons Premium Cigars in Olympia who collected cash donations while enjoying their cigars.

Mendel said that all funds raised beyond $3,000 will support scholarships through the Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial Fund.

“We’re preparing an official ‘thank you’ to all donors,” Mendel wrote.