QuikSand
09-06-2005, 09:08 AM
I wanted to report that Mrs. Q and I finally made it to this exhibit this weekend - the item previously reported in Fritz's thread here:
Portraits of the Fallen on Display (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=37270)
The display, at Arlington National Cemetery, includes a small piece of artwork depicting each of the soldiers who was killed in the line of duty during our nation's involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. The art was varied (lots of different styles, nothing too noteworthy) but the subject was of course the main matter.
Not surprisingly, it was very, very powerful - I don't think there was anyone visiting who was not quickly reduced to tears. Very powerful, made notably more so by the presence of various items left behind by previous visitors -- notes, pictures, coins, and so forth -- on the small platform supporting each artistic rendering. The small display for pat Tillman was understandably heavily adorned, but the most moving were the notes and tokens from family members and fellow soldiers. In many cases, these were moving beyond words.
I personally didn't know anyone who has lost his life in the conflict, so as a way of "thanks" I left a few coins behind on the platforms of some of the fallen heroes who had not yet had visitors do so, including a couple young men for whom there was apparently no available basis for artwork (leaving just a blank silhouette). I honestly didn't know what else I could do, but (obviously like a lot of other people before me) wanted to do something.
Anyway - I post this here for a reason. The exhibit has been extended through November 14th. If you live in the DC area, or are planning to visit sometime soon, there's still time to go see this. I would like very much for this exhibit to get extended indefinitely (and expanded to include the hundreds more who have died in the months since its original completion) through the actual "end" of this conflict, whatever that turns out to be. I think it has immense value, and no doubt anyone who has visited would agree.
Portraits of the Fallen on Display (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=37270)
The display, at Arlington National Cemetery, includes a small piece of artwork depicting each of the soldiers who was killed in the line of duty during our nation's involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. The art was varied (lots of different styles, nothing too noteworthy) but the subject was of course the main matter.
Not surprisingly, it was very, very powerful - I don't think there was anyone visiting who was not quickly reduced to tears. Very powerful, made notably more so by the presence of various items left behind by previous visitors -- notes, pictures, coins, and so forth -- on the small platform supporting each artistic rendering. The small display for pat Tillman was understandably heavily adorned, but the most moving were the notes and tokens from family members and fellow soldiers. In many cases, these were moving beyond words.
I personally didn't know anyone who has lost his life in the conflict, so as a way of "thanks" I left a few coins behind on the platforms of some of the fallen heroes who had not yet had visitors do so, including a couple young men for whom there was apparently no available basis for artwork (leaving just a blank silhouette). I honestly didn't know what else I could do, but (obviously like a lot of other people before me) wanted to do something.
Anyway - I post this here for a reason. The exhibit has been extended through November 14th. If you live in the DC area, or are planning to visit sometime soon, there's still time to go see this. I would like very much for this exhibit to get extended indefinitely (and expanded to include the hundreds more who have died in the months since its original completion) through the actual "end" of this conflict, whatever that turns out to be. I think it has immense value, and no doubt anyone who has visited would agree.