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1 of 2 | Former President George W. Bush paints portraits of subject veterans. On Wednesday, nan first time of National Military Appreciation Month, Disney EPCOT announced it will big an grounds of nan portraits astatine The American Adventure Pavilion. Photo courtesy of George W. Bush Presidential Center
May 1 (UPI) -- With nan commencement of National Military Appreciation Month, Disney's EPCOT announced Wednesday it will unfastened a caller grounds of subject seasoned portraits painted by erstwhile President George W. Bush.
The exhibit, called "Portraits of Courage: A Commander successful Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors," will beryllium connected indebtedness from nan George W. Bush Institute. The grounds will unfastened to nan nationalist June 9, astatine The American Adventure Pavilion astatine Walt Disney World successful Orlando.
"Celebrating those who springiness truthful overmuch to our state has been portion of nan cloth of The Walt Disney Company passim our 100-year history," said Josh D'Amaro, chairman, Disney Experiences. "We're grateful to nan Bush Institute for allowing america to characteristic this typical postulation and stock it pinch our guests."
The 60 lipid paintings characteristic U.S. work members and veterans who served aft 9/11. Each coating is accompanied by a curriculum vitae written by Bush, who has travel to cognize nan veterans personally. The stories uncover nan veterans' work connected nan battlefield, betterment from injuries and post-military contributions.
The nation's 43rd president took up coating arsenic a hobby aft leaving agency successful 2009. Eight years later, he released a book featuring his portraits of veterans who served successful Iraq and Afghanistan. Proceeds from nan book person benefited nan George W. Bush Presidential Center's Military Service Initiative, which helps veterans flooded nan beingness and affectional scars from warfare arsenic they modulation backmost to civilian life.
As nan paintings characteristic post-9/11 veterans, Disney announced Wednesday it will see accusation successful nan grounds connected really to support those who person served and their families. One resource, called Check-In, helps veterans link pinch free, high-quality intelligence and encephalon wellness care.
National Military Appreciation Month, which was designated successful 1999 and runs from May 1 to May 31, honors those who are presently serving successful nan U.S military.
"We are thrilled Portraits of Courage will beryllium connected show for EPCOT visitors to acquisition this year," said Ken Hersh, president and main executive serviceman of nan George W. Bush Presidential Center.
"My dream is that those who person nan opportunity to spot this typical grounds will besides retrieve nan leadership, work and sacrifice down each of nan heroes painted and nan unsocial challenges our work members and their families look erstwhile transitioning retired of nan military."
