Portraits of Courage

Image courtesy of Noelia Veras

By Noelia Veras

Former President George W. Bush painted a collection of 66 paintings to commemorate the service and sacrifice of United States veterans during 9/11. The paintings show not only the physical but also the mental wounds the veterans endured from their service. This collection has been made into an exhibit that is being showcased at the Kennedy Center from October 7 to November 15. 

This collection of paintings by the former president was initially a past-time after his presidency which then turned into something highly influential. This exhibit has been in seven different locations including the Kennedy Center. Additionally, all of the portraits in the collection were of the veterans that Bush has personally met and spoken with one-on-one. 

At the beginning of the exhibit was a brief introduction to the collection entitled “Portraits of Courage,” displayed in bold, red font. Underneath the collection title were the words “A Commander in Chief’s tribute to American warriors.” Following this excerpt was a video on the adjacent wall in which George W. Bush himself spoke of the exhibit and the importance of his work in highlighting some of the individuals by name and face to emphasize their importance to this country as a whole. 

The first paintings in the exhibit included a self-portrait of Bush which set a contemplative tone to the exhibit. The exhibit was well-attended but, even then, hardly any words were shared amongst the visitors. Many spectators seemed to be in absolute awe, absorbing the power of the message behind the paintings, noticing some of the minute details of the art. All of the branches of the military were represented by the individuals that were painted, including various ranks.

The former president even painted an image of him dancing with First Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell. Stockwell wore a jubilant smile on her face, drawing various visitors who stared and analyzed the image for several minutes. The image is almost simplistic in its display yet it is so much more than two people dancing. The image portrays the former Commander-in-chief intimately sharing a moment of joy with a warrior. 

The paintings are all full of color, portraying the dynamic lives of these veterans and their incredible sacrifice. Bush also made a book to commemorate the veterans from 9/11 in which he included pictures of all of his portraits, each accompanied by dedicated descriptions. 

In a video by the Kennedy Center, several veterans expressed their gratitude for being commemorated by the former president. 

“It was a huge honor for president Bush to paint me,” said Army Command Sergeant Major Brian Flom in the video. “Never in a million years do you think about the millions of veterans out there and to be one of 98 veterans to be painted by a former president, it’s quite the honor.”

Overall, the exhibit was extremely inspiring and accessible as it was free to the public. The message was so powerful that some visitors left crying while others appeared to be contemplating it, even after they left the room. Barely any words were heard in the exhibit due to the reverence for the wounded warriors and because of the heavy subject. Ultimately, the exhibit is an important one showcasing the struggles veterans faced after their service, from physical to mental wounds and highlighting their enduring courage and unwavering strength.