Phoenix, Arizona - President George W. Bush visited the Valley on October 18 to open a traveling exhibition of his paintings, Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors. Brought to Phoenix by the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Arizona Historical Society, and the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, the Portraits of Courage collection grew out of George W. Bush’s personal commitment to veterans and the ongoing work of the Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative.
Following a tour of the gallery, guests were invited into the auditorium, where President Bush interviewed U.S. Army veterans Manny Colon and Tim Gaestel, two subjects in the portraits on display. The conversation revealed the moving stories of how these men are recovering from both the visible and invisible wounds of war, as well as the connection between President Bush and the post-9/11 veterans he has gotten to know.
Portraits of Courage brings together 66 full-color portraits and a four-panel mural painted by President Bush of 98 service members and veterans who have served our nation with honor. The Arizona Historical Society’s Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park in Tempe is one of just four venues to host the paintings this year. Portraits of Courage will be on display from October 19 through December 29, 2018.
Admission to Portraits of Courage is included with tickets to the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park (1300 N College Ave Tempe, AZ 85281). Adults are $12; Seniors 65+ are $10; Ages 7 – 17 are $8; Children 6 and under, Arizona Historical Society members, military and veterans are free. Two-for-one admission is offered on the first Tuesday of the month. To learn more, visit www.PortraitsofCourageAZ.org
Each featured painting is accompanied by the inspiring story of the warrior depicted, written by President Bush. As the stories unfold, readers and visitors will encounter the faces and the hearts of those who answered the nation’s call and learn of their bravery on the battlefield, their journey to recovery, and the continued leadership and contribution they make as civilians. In addition to the collection of portraits, the exhibit includes information and resources created by the Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative that visitors can use to learn how to better support post-9/11 warriors in their communities. These resources are intended to help bridge the military-civilian divide.
The paintings featured in Portraits of Courage are also the subject of a hardcover book by the same name, available now in stores and online. President Bush is donating 100 percent of his profits from the book to the George W. Bush Presidential Center, whose Military Service Initiative works to ensure that post-9/11 veterans and their families make successful transitions to civilian life with a focus on gaining meaningful employment and overcoming the invisible wounds of war.