BLOCK ISLAND QUARTER LAUNCH CEREMONY

The ceremonial first pour of the new quarter at the ceremony that launched it on Thursday, November 15, 2018, at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center included Margaret Everson, Principal Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, left, Jim Kurth, deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit and David Ryder, director of the United States Mint

Depicting a black-crowned night heron in flight above Cow Cove beach, a new quarter featuring the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge was launched Thursday at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center, in a ceremony that was live-streamed to Block Island. Charles Vandemoer, project leader for Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuges, was master of ceremonies.

David Ryder, director of the United States Mint, was joined by state Sen. Dennis Algiere, R-Westerly, and Rep. Blake Filippi, R- Block Island; Narragansett Tribal Elder Robin Spears; Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit; and Jim Kurth, deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There was also a sizable audience of excited coin collectors.

Chariho students had leading roles in the ceremony, and Humanities Specialist Dana Hall said the students were thrilled to participate.

“It’s such an important event,” she said. “To be part of the ceremony for a coin, they called on Chariho, and it’s such an honor.”

Charlestown Boy Scout Troop 15 and Eagle Scout Cody Clarkin opened the event with the presentation of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members of Chariho High School Vocal Select sang the national anthem and “America the Beautiful,” and students from John Labriola’s Grade 7 and 8 science classes at the middle school presented background information on the elements of the coin’s design.

Boston artist Chris Costello, who has designed several quarters, said the inspiration for his latest coin came from a night heron he encountered while visiting Block Island.

“The image that is on the quarter is literally an image that I saw when I got out of my car to take pictures,” he said. “I was looking towards the North Lighthouse, on a beautiful winter day, as a matter of fact, and I saw an actual heron fly over towards the pond. It was just a beautiful sight and that’s pretty much the foundation of the design.”

To read the complete article, see:
A Place Most Treasured: U.S. Mint launches Block Island quarter in America the Beautiful series (http://www.thewesterlysun.com/News/Charlestown/U-S-Mint-unveils-new-Rhode-Island-quarter.html)

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