As we celebrate Independence Day tomorrow, a mural recently painted in Whitehall's Wallace Park gives testimony to ideals of unity upon which our country was founded and continues to hold dear.

Uprooted from their homes because of political oppression, people from locales as diverse as Africa and Eastern Europe immigrated to the Prospect Park area of the borough over the past decade or so. Many were sponsored by Catholic Charities.

The artists said the mural they helped create reflects the motto of the Great Seal for the United States of America adopted in 1782: "E Pluribus Unum,'' out of many, one.

"Community" was the theme of the mural project sponsored by the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council and its Families for Learning Center, which has been an active part of the local refugee resettlement effort for more than 10 years.

The center, at Maple Drive, provides life and communication skills to about 40 refugee families.

Rose Marotta, an English teacher, suggested the project. Artist Emily Acita, of Lawrenceville, helped get it moving.

The mural also shows some of the elements of the Prospect Park neighborhood, which includes the recreational area, Wallace Park.

"A garden full of diverse plants and trees really related to the idea of the neighborhood, which has people who come from many different parts of the world, but who are now rooted here,'' Ms. Acita said.

She said the center's families designed the artwork. The colorful mural, which also features houses and vehicles, could, in fact, be a background set for the ever-popular Mr. Rogers children's show and provides a touch of beauty to the neighborhood. Ms. Marotta said some refugee families enjoy watching the syndicated TV show and find it helpful in developing their language skills.

"It was a great way to convey the concept of community among such a wide mix of different cultures," Ms. Marotta said, adding that the center's members looked forward to working on the mural twice a week for the past month.

"It was also a different learning experience," Ms. Marotta said.

In the process of painting the mural, those involved learned something about art and the names of the various instruments and paints that were used.

More adults than children took part in the mural project, with some exhibiting more artistic proficiency or talent than others. All of the ''artists'' wrote greetings on the bottom in their native language, which welcomed everyone to Prospect Park.

"It's a great way for the residents to work together and get to know one another better," Whitehall Councilwoman Linda Book said.

Whitehall Council had to approve the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council's project.

The mural, which will be covered with a special graffiti-resistant coating, will be officially unveiled at a Prospect Park festival sponsored by the GPLC to be held on July 30.