Guardian of the Herd donated to students, staff

Operations of Mariposa have recently donated the green “Guardian of the Herd” from the Wild Horse display in Plains to the students and staff of Plains Public Schools.

In a recent press release, the local organization donated the horse that represents that of families of veterans that committed suicide to the school for students to choose where the horse should be displayed.

“Anything the students want to add and any correspondence to whomever or wherever they choose to be its final home,” said the press release sent by board member Ed Foste.

“This could be somewhere or someone local or somewhere and someone more visible. Be creative, be inspired but most of all lead and join our voice,” the release said.

This horse was painted in honor of the some 20-22 veterans a day that choose to leave on their terms. It was estimated that during the 20 months it took locals David Williams and Haylee Steinebach to create the massive display (original story published in the Vally Press edition 09/26) some 12,760 to 25,036 veterans took their lives.

“You are Trotters and Horsemen and the keepers of our herd so be loud, be proud, show us your colors and let your voices be heard,” said Williams, artist and member of Operations of Mariposa.

Plains Schools Superintendent Thom Chisholm said that he hopes the kids vote to have the horse donated to the American Legion in Paradise.

“It’s a great way to tie the two communities together, and we as a school are supporting the vets in both communities and a local Legion,” said Chisholm.

He went on to say that the decision will be made solely by the students and hoped they would agree a good home for display is the newly rebuilt Legion in Paradise.