MOUNT VERNON — August 14, 2021, was Marty Bell Day in Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon mayor Matt Starr announced a proclamation Saturday evening honoring Bell for her service to the community. As a part of this proclamation, Starr gave Bell the key to the city and proclaimed the day was to be named after her.
“We had a very special person who has created a lot of art in this community retire,” Starr said to the crowd gathered outside City Hall following the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival art auction.
Unbeknownst to Bell, Starr was talking about her. Bell had just concluded her work with the auction, carrying the art pieces around Public Square so residents could see all the details. She was chatting up her fellow festival volunteers when Starr announced the person he was talking about was her.
Bell immediately swiveled around to face Starr — and a look of pure shock and awe formed on her face.
“Continue to love and share and appreciate the arts,” Bell urged in her acceptance speech.
Bell described the proclamation as “icing on the cake” to her work in Mount Vernon, which included 32 years as choir director, 10 years at Highland Local School District and 22 years at Mount Vernon Middle and High Schools before her retirement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bell is also the director of Mount Vernon’s Heritage Singers, a 14-voice a capella group as well as a member of the Gay Street United Methodist Church choir.
During her retirement, Bell plans to spend time with family, specifically traveling to see her grandchildren. But, her work in the community is far from over.
Bell is starting “100+ Women Who Care,” a group of women who will gather periodically each year to raise money for local charities, helping to provide for the needs of Knox County without time-consuming fundraising events.
“I’m speechless,” Bell said following the proclamation announcement. “We’re fortunate in Knox County to have so many opportunities for all of our musicians, and the community supports it.
“I hope that just keeps growing.”
Mayoral proclamations are ceremonial documents signed by the mayor, and Starr is grateful to be able to issue them as a part of his job.
“It’s one of those really cool things that are great about this job, when you can recognize somebody like this and point out their contributions to the community,” Starr said.
Saturday was the first time in approximately a decade someone has been given the key to the city, Starr said, adding that Bell was an obvious choice for the honor.
“Anybody who creates art makes the community that much more special,” Starr said.
