The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will be hosting a special exhibition called “Portraits of Courage: A Commander’s Tribute to America’s Warriors,” from the George W. Bush Institute. The exhibition will take place inside The American Adventure pavilion at EPCOT, located at the Walt Disney World Resort. The exhibit will run for 12 months, starting with a grand opening on June 9th.
This exhibition is the result of President George W. Bush’s personal commitment and the ongoing work of the Bush Institute’s Veterans and Military Families program. It brings together over 60 full-color portraits that were painted by President Bush himself. The portraits depict 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.
“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.”
The exhibit features a collection of paintings, each one portraying a veteran along with an inspiring story written by the President. As visitors walk through the exhibit, they will come across the faces and stories of those who served the nation. They will learn about their bravery on the battlefield, their journey to recovery, and their continued leadership and contributions to society as civilians.
“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 exhibit showcases resources and information intended to support veterans and their families. Among these resources is a tool that enables veterans and their families to easily access no-cost, high-quality mental and brain health care. You can visit veterancheckin.org to learn more about Check-In.
For over a century, The Walt Disney Company has honored U.S. military service. Its founders, Walt and Roy O. Disney, both served their country during the First World War. Since 2012, Disney has donated more than $20 million in funding and media support to non-profit organizations that aim to bring joy to veterans and military families.
Today, Disney takes pride in recognizing the thousands of U.S. military veterans who work in all sectors of the company as part of the Heroes Work Here initiative. It also offers special discounts and daily flag retreat ceremonies at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort to honor military families.
