faces of the fallen

These two paintings were completed in honor of two fallen US heroes in the fight of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. I was extremely proud to have volunteered my artistic services for such a worthy cause.

portraits

rough sketches

web

programs

clients

faces of the fallen

All Gave Some, Some Gave All

Army Specialist Phillip L. Witkowski of Fredonia, N.Y. assigned to 7th field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division (light), Scholfield Barracks, Hawaii: died May 1, 2004, in Homburg, Germany, from non- combat-related injuries sustained on April 30th 2004, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Army Chief warrant Officer 3 William I. Brennan of Bethlehem, Conn. assigned to the 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation, 25 Infantry Division (Light) Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii; killed Oct. 16, 2004, when his OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter apparently collided with another OH-58D helicopter and crashed in Baghdad. Also killed was
Capt. Christopher B. Johnson

A message from the Chair Annette Polan

Created during the conflict it commemorates, Faces of the Fallen continued the age-old tradition of artists memorializing war heroes. The exhibit echoed the Renaissance ideal that art can and does transcend and heal. Kathleen Robert's reaction on seeing her brother's portrait for the first time at the Women's Memorial says it best: "…It was a tremendous yet beneficial shock. Looking at that painting was like looking at Andrew again. It was so much better than a photo. It almost looked…holy!...."

Under the distinguished patronage of our Honorary Chairs, the exhibit opened in March 2005 with more than 2,500 people in attendance, most of them family members and friends of the fallen heroes. The gathering remains to this day the largest of its kind since the wars began.

The steady stream of visitors to Faces of the Fallen bore witness to its emotional and educational impact.

Even after the closing, extensive and ongoing media coverage continues to chronicle the tribute here and abroad. Faces of the Fallen has been recognized with the 2006 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Outstanding Public Service Award for “extraordinary support of America’s service members and their families”. CORE architecture + design received the 2005 Pro Bono Publico Award from the Washington Architectural Foundation for its work on the exhibit. The exhibit was also named one of The Washington Post’s 2005 top five gallery exhibitions.

Over 650,000 people from America and around the world came to the Women’s Memorial to see the portraits. Many have left behind cherished photographs and other memorabilia, turning the exhibit into a memento mori bringing Americans together in grief and gratitude, and we are cataloguing and archiving these artifacts to the highest standard.The faces in these portraits, reproduced on this website, reach out to the future, and the fallen live on, enshrined in the memory of individuals and in the story of our nation. We are glad you could join us in honoring their courage and remembering their sacrifice.

Thank you.
Annette PolanChair

This website is designed and compiled by Pierre Georges, all artwork on this site are copyrighted. If you have any
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