If you’ve ever walked, ran, biked or driven by the house at the northwest corner of Washington Avenue and Arden in the Hollywood section of Brookfield you’ve probably noticed all the signs covering the brick exterior of the Washington Avenue side of the home. The signs include writings from Abraham Lincoln, the Declaration of Independence and 18th Century Anglo-Irish politician and philosopher Edmund Burke.
Dave Myers, 74, lives in the house with his wife Marilyn Hill. Myers produced the signs and plastered them to the side of his yellow brick home. The signs are meant to promote thought and conversation.
“I love my country and I believe in people,” Myers said.
He started putting up the signs about six months ago.
Myers used to work in computer numerical control, basically machining with computers, and his signs feature high quality computer printed vinyl letters on polyethylene sheets. It’s not cheap.
“It takes a fair amount time,” Myers said. “Right now, I think I’m running about $800 between materials, software.”
He groups his signs by theme and has sections that he calls choices and Trumpers.
Myers is not a Trumper. Although he began with the idea of promoting discussion, which he still wants to do, he says he cannot be neutral. He considers President Donald Trump an abomination.
“I tried to be neutral but with what he (Trump) has been doing I can’t be neutral anymore,” Myers said. “Nobody can be. It’s time to pick a side.”
But Myers tries to promote civility and engages in discussions with anyone willing to stop and talk.
“If we don’t start talking we’re not going to have a country left,” Myers said.
He is friends with his next door neighbor who is a supporter of President Trump.
“He and I are good friends, just opposite sides of the political spectrum,” Myers said. “And that’s the way it should be.”
Myers is also critical of Democratic politicians.
“I don’t have any respect for the Democrats because they rolled over and played dead,” Myers said. “Both sides are basically just paying attention to their version of the elites and just forgot the 90 percent at the bottom.”
Myers moved to Brookfield a couple years ago after marrying Hill.
“She was a Trumper, she ain’t anymore, she’s an independent,” Myers said.
While the signs are Myers project he said his wife is all in on it.
“Both of us are making a statement,” Myers said. “It’s time for everybody to start speaking up. We can’t be quiet anymore or we won’t have a country left. We both realize that we’re taking a risk but it’s something we want to do. Both of us have made that decision it’s time to stand up and be counted.”
Myers first put a sign on a tree in front of his house but was told by a Brookfield police officer that the tree was village property and he couldn’t put a sign on it. But the officer told him he could put anything he wanted to on his house.
The signs have generated looks and some conversations. And thus far he’s experienced no harsh reactions when he is out in his yard or on his lawn.
“If they stop and talk they’re pro,” Myers said. “If they look at me and they keep on going they’re not and I’m running about 3 to 1 (pro).”
Myers grew up in Richfield, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. He worked as an electrician before getting into computers. He and Hill met on a dating site about three years ago.
Myers said he is motivated by patriotism and concern for his country.
“My dad fought in World War II, the Pacific, Guadalcanal and such. This is my turn to stand up and be counted,” Myers said.