Earlier this month, the Portraits of Courage exhibit opened in The American Adventure rotunda at EPCOT. The exhibit contains more than 60 paintings by President George W. Bush of veterans as a tribute to America’s warriors. The Portraits of Courage exhibit will be available for a year.
Portraits of Courage by President George W. Bush
Growing out of President George W. Bush’s personal commitment and the ongoing work of the Bush Institute’s Veterans and Military Families program, the exhibit brings together more than 60 full-color portraits painted by President Bush of service members and veterans who have served the nation with honor since 9/11, and whom the President has come to know personally since leaving office.
Here’s a look at the exterior of The American Adventure, featuring banners for the new exhibit.
“Celebrating those who give so much to our country has been part of the fabric of The Walt Disney Company throughout our 100-year history,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “We’re grateful to the Bush Institute for allowing us to feature this special collection and share it with our guests.”
“We are thrilled Portraits of Courage will be on display for EPCOT visitors to experience this year,” said Ken Hersh, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. “My hope is that those who have the opportunity to see this special exhibit will also remember the leadership, service, and sacrifice behind each of the heroes painted and the unique challenges our service members and their families face when transitioning out of the military.”
The men and women highlighted in this exhibit are representative of the approximately five million post-9/11 veterans, each of whom has had unique experiences and has unique goals for his or her life back home.
President George W. Bush and the Bush Institute are committed to supporting these warriors. Through policy work, their Veterans and Military Families programming ensures 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.
Nearly all of the warriors featured in this exhibit have participated in one of the two wounded warrior sporting events hosted by the Bush Center. The W100K is a 100-kilometer mountain bike ride hosted by President and Mrs. Bush on their ranch near Crawford, Texas. The Warrior Open is a competitive golf tournament hosted in Dallas.
The exhibit includes information and resources created to support veterans and their families. One of those resources is a tool for veterans and their families to easily connect to no-cost, high-quality, mental and brain health care. To learn more about Check-In, visit www.veterancheckin.org.
For more than 100 years, The Walt Disney Company has admired U.S. military service dating back to founders Walt and Roy O. Disney, who both served their country during the First World War. Since 2012, Disney has contributed more than twenty million dollars in funding and media support to nonprofit organizations that focus on bringing joy to veterans and military families.
The portraits can be found around the perimeter of The American Adventure rotunda.
In addition to the paintings, there is a display with letters sent to President George W. Bush.
The exhibit is a wonderful tribute to the men and women who have served our country. It’s amazing that paintings from a President of the United States hang in the walls of The American Adventure at EPCOT, and we encourage you to stop by and take a look the next time that you visit.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!