(11 am. – promoted by ek hornbeck)
Justified Honor and Remembrance for not only Sgt. Yarosh but all who served and are serving in these two theaters, burned soldier portrait to show at Smithsonian!
This is and will be for a long time a great tribute to this soldier, and all the Fallen and Maimed of these two continuing occupations. And like “The Wall”, until we can build a Memorial for the Fallen of both these conflicts, it should be a Reminder to this Nation of what We Allowed “In Our Names!”!!
Army Sgt. Richard Yarosh
SAN ANTONIO – Retired Army Sgt. Richard Yarosh has gotten used to the stares. His face is blanketed in knotty scar tissue. His nose tip is missing. His ears are gone, as is part of his right leg. His fingers are permanently bent and rigid.
All is the result of an explosion in Iraq that doused him in fuel and fire three years ago.
“I know people are curious,” he said. “They’ll stop in their tracks and look. I guess I can understand. I probably would have stared, too.”
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The gallery received more than 3,300 entries. Many are less conventional portraits, including video and photos, but others, like that of Yarosh, draw strength from the traditional head-and-shoulders composition, said curator Brandon Fortune.
Mitchell’s use of the style – historically reserved for nobility, a high-ranking military officer or a president, not a disfigured soldier in an Army T-shirt – democratizes such paintings, Fortune said.
“The portrait is clearly meant to honor him. I think that contributes to the gravity of the presentation,” she said.
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Yarosh was astonished when he saw the completed portrait.
“It was perfect. I couldn’t believe that he captured me,” he said. “It captures my pride. I’m proud of the way I look. I’m proud of the reason for the way I look.”..>>>Rest Found Here
Speaking of a Memorial, I’ve had a picture in my head all these past years of another “Wall”, facing ours but built up on the top of steps for each year we stay in these theaters, to tower above ours but making a Corridor for the public to walk through.
Towering above ours because we ‘Nam Vets and this Nation didn’t Keep Our Promise: To Learn The lessons Of ‘Nam And To Never To Allow Another ‘War/Occupation of Choice!
The Steps to be the Sacrifice this Nation finally makes for what it allowed, All Visitors would need to walk up each step to reach the Names Engraved in Honor from this Country for their Service and Sacrifice!!