Surrounded by his children and grandchildren, friends and coworkers, and most importantly the young children of the Boston Public Schools system, Mayor Tom Menino was presented with a surprise birthday present that not only encapsulates the City of Boston, but how he’s changed it for the better.

Boston Public Schools art teacher extraordinaire Debra Manley commissioned her students to paint pictures, transpose drawings to tiles, grout 28 panels, and spend three nights installing a panoramic mural on the walls of City Hall’s third floor.

A notoriously dismal, misshapen heap of concrete, City Hall has now been injected with a youthful vibrance the likes of which it has rarely, if ever, seen.

With warm introductions from Manley and Menino’s education constituents, the mural was unveiled to the surprise of the Mayor. And with his archetypal dialect, he too took to the podium expressing his sincere gratitude and unwavering optimism of the future generations of Boston.

“Thank you everyone who had anything to do with this this morning,” began Boston’s mayor of 20-years. “Especially the children.”

But then he was asked by people in the crowd to speak up, to which he jested, in classic Menino fashion, “Speak up? Didn’t they tell you I only have a few days left?”

After a roar of approving laughter, though, Menino became visibly emotional with thanksgiving to everyone who made this lasting surprise a reality.

“To the young people here, you’re the future of the city, guys. And even though I’ll be leaving as mayor, I’ll be still involved in the education of the children… not just as mayor but as a private citizen,” Menino continued. “I’ll tell you that I want to be there for you, because it’s so important that we give you an opportunity. It’s the people of Boston and the children of Boston who are important, who make the city work. So to all of you, thank you.”

Manley’s students dug through thousands of photographs and maps, selecting what they felt were epitomic images of Boston. They then worked with fellow artists, donors, and organizations to represent each of Boston’s puzzle piece neighborhoods, from East Boston to Hyde Park, with quintessential icons and landmarks, like sailboats, Fenway’s Citgo sign, and the Freedom Trail.

For a complete list of benefactors and participants, a website has been constructed in thanks to all of those who had a hand in the spirited mosaic that will hang in remembrance for years to come.

A lifelong resident of Hyde Park, Menino has spent 20 years as the Mayor of Boston and another ten as a City Counselor, dedicating most of his life to serving the city. On January 6, 2014, Mayor-elect Marty Walsh will be officially sworn in as the next helmsman of The Hub and hopes to emulate Menino’s personification of unity and dedication, idealism, and loyalty to Boston.

Happy 71st birthday, Mayor Menino!