City Hall's gecko in Army fatigues is unveiled

BRADENTON – This Gecko is Army strong.

Margaret Eaton, from left, Natalie Eaton, and Evan Eaton at the unveiling of ”Evan's Gecko“ on the north side of City Hall on Tuesday.

”Evan's Gecko“ was unveiled on the north side of City Hall on Tuesday. Cecilia Eaton, who designed and painted the artwork in Army camouflage with a yellow ”Support Our Troops“ ribbon attached, stood close to Army Spc. Evan Eaton, her son and the inspiration for the piece.

Evan Eaton is visiting his hometown, on leave from service in Iraq, for a few weeks. He was a little bit surprised when they pulled off the covering for the first piece of ”GeckoFest.“

”I am very excited to come home to a city that supports veterans,“ he said.

GeckoFest is a fundraiser for the arts and art programming and is held every two years in Bradenton. The festival is entering its third season, and Jayne Kocher, a board member on the Downtown Development Authority, said there are more 60 fiberglass geckos in the works by local artists.

”It's been a lot of fun,“ Kocher said. ”We are really trying to grow this event.“

She said proceeds will go toward local arts organizations, including Village of the Arts and Realize Bradenton, and toward grants that support local schools’ art programming.

Natalie Eaton, Evan Eaton's wife, was also in the audience. She said he was deployed after their eighth month of marriage.

Though he’ll be going back to Iraq at the end of the month, he has been refreshed by the visit home and being with his wife, mother and grandmother.

Cecilia Eaton created "Evan's Gecko" to honor her son's service in Iraq.

”This is just something I do as my job,“ Evan Eaton said. ”But I couldn't do it without my mother and wife.“

Cecilia Eaton created ”Evan's Gecko“ in less than four months and decided to participate in the fund-raiser to raise awareness of local people in the military and organizations, such as Manasota Operation Troop Support, that provide assistance to deployed soldiers and their families.

She is dedicating her commission to the organization, but her son said that his mother is not a professional artist, but a full-time attorney.

”When my son was deployed I wanted to honor him and his commitment to the armed forces,“ Cecilia Eaton said.

Although Tuesday's unveiling was to honor a special soldier, the actual ”GeckoFest“ preview party won't be until April 15 in Rossi Park. Its major sponsor is Geico Insurance.