We Shall Never Forget...
This weekend was our normal family weekend, I was painting and sketching, my husband was working in the yard, and my children were smiling and playing in the yard. At the beginning of the weekend, I was thinking about what I would write for Red Easel and then it became obvious – I needed to say “thank you.” Not just to anybody either, but to every soldier who has risked their life for my freedom, the freedom of my family, and my children’s freedom, and to the families who have lost a loved one, a soldier, a hero, to this war. Thank you.
There is a painful sadness that resonates thru me when I hear about more young soldiers being maimed or losing their lives to this war and I want to give something back to show my humble gratitude to the families who have also sacrificed a loved one for our freedom. They have lost so much and must live on without their loved one.
I have been searching the internet for ways in which artists can give back to the families and have found several resources that might be of interest. There are ways that we can use our creative talents to give back to the families of fallen soldiers.
Fallen Heroes Project is a Portrait Foundation by Michael G. Reagan.
Michael paints portraits of fallen soldiers and gives them as a gift to
the families. His work is wonderful and will hopefully inspire other
artists to do something similar for our heroes.
Soldier Portraits is another organization that is providing portraits of fallen heroes as a gift to their families. There are a number of artists who are participating in this project and use different mediums – Airbrush, Colored Pencil, Graphite Pencil or Charcoal, Pastel, Graphic Artists, Sculpture, Watercolor, and other mediums as well. Started by Darla Dixon, this project has pulled together the resources of artists across the nation to give back to the families of fallen heroes.
Art from the Heart began when artist Lisa Gleim, along with five fellow artists and friends founded the Atlanta Fine Arts League in 2005. The League was created as a catalyst for their highly acclaimed community project, Art From The Heart; a project where Atlanta area artists have donated their time and talent to paint the portraits of Georgia's fallen soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan for their families left behind. There work and efforts are to be commended and we hope you will visit their site and be inspired.
Project Compassion is a way to say “Thank you” to those American servicemen and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for America — and for the loved ones they have left behind. For no fee, Kaziah Hancock will paint an original oil on canvas portrait of fallen heroes for their immediate families. In this small way, she thanks them for giving their all in the cause of freedom. Kaziah says, “I wanted to give a gift of the heart, from one American to another. A gift that says someone gives a damn...I love you... here....it’s not much, but it’s painted with love, of your dear one.” Project Compassion includes a number of renowned professional portraitists who have accepted Kaziah’s invitation to join her in their gifts of talent.
Faces of the Fallen is another organization honoring America's heroes. “Faces of the Fallen is about love and relationships, courage and sacrifice. It is also about the vision of artists and the power of art to bring us together in sorrow, compassion and respect.” - Annette Polan, Artist and Founder/Chair, Faces of the Fallen.
Portrait of a Soldier donates pencil sketch portraits to the immediate families of any Illinois service member killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Founded by two Eastern Illinois University students, this was their way of showing gratitude and respect to the service men and women and their families from Illinois.
"We can never fully repay the debt of our proud nation to those who have laid down their lives for our country. The best we can do is honor their memory, ensure that their sacrifice is not in vain, and help provide for their families." - Susan Collins
More than 3000 U.S. military personnel have died since the beginning of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan in March, 2003. Please keep their families in your prayers.
Thank you to all the artists who are giving of their talents to the families of our fallen soldiers. We hope to add to the list of artists already giving.
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag.
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
-Father Denis O’Brien, United States Marine Corps
We at Red Easel are wanting to raise the bar and see that every state is represented in this effort. While we can't boil the ocean and cover everybody, we would like to ask our artist members and readers to sponsor a state and paint at least 5 portraits for a family who has lost a soldier hero in Iraq or Afghanistan. We can collectively make a difference across this great nation and for the families of the fallen. We will honor these portraits with a page on Red Easel and presentation in time for memorial day, 2008.
If you have painted a portrait for a family of a fallen hero, please send a jpg of this portrait to susan@redeasel.com with the name of the soldier it depicts, the name of the artist, the state the soldier is from, the soldier's age, and the date that the soldier lost his life. Also, please include a link to your website and any information about the organization you represent in this effort. If you are doing this on your own, that is fine too, just let us know.
Thank you to all the artists who are making a difference to the families of service men and women who have given their lives for our freedom. You are giving of your talents to bring joy to a family who has sacrificed much, and whose soldier has given the ultimate gift and paid the ultimate sacrifice - life.
Susan
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