Walt Disney World Resort is set to debut a new art exhibit honoring U.S. service members, featuring paintings by former President George W. Bush, this Sunday.
The Walt Disney Company revealed last month that it would present “Portraits of Courage: A Commander’s Tribute to America‘s Warriors” from June 9, with the exhibition running for 12 months at the American Adventure pavilion in EPCOT.
“It’s an honor for Disney to host the Portraits of Courage collection in recognition of the service and sacrifice of the military heroes portrayed in these paintings,” stated Jackie Herrera, a producer at Walt Disney Imagineering. “We look forward to sharing them with our guests.”
The exhibition comprises over 60 oil paintings by the former president, each accompanied by a story about the veteran depicted. It also includes a four-panel mural.
“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 servicemembers and their families face when transitioning out of the military.”
The EPCOT display will also include resources for veterans and their families, featuring connections to no-cost, high-quality mental and brain health care.
President Bush’s artwork has been featured in numerous exhibits across the United States in recent years.
The series of paintings highlights service members since Sept. 11, 2001, during two Middle East wars initiated under Bush’s administration following the tragic terrorist attacks in New York City. Over 7,000 U.S. service members have died in the post-9/11 era, and four times as many have died by suicide compared to those lost in combat, indicating a severe mental health crisis, according to Brown University’s Costs of War Project.
