State’s traveling ‘Portrait of a Soldier’ exhibits to visit Chicago area and downstate locations during September

 

Upcoming events and locations include:

  • Saturday, Sept. 8th(Portrait of a Soldier viewing for one-day only)
    • SrA Bradley Smith Memorial Silver Star Ceremony (begins at 8 a.m.)
      • Tri-Township Park, 409 Collinsville Road, Troy, IL 62294
      • For more event information, please email: [email protected]
  • Sunday, Sept. 9th(Portrait of a Soldier viewing for one-day only)
    • 6thAnnual Kevin Clarke Memorial Ride (from 7 a.m-10 a.m.)
      • American Legion Post 615, 17423 67th Court, Tinley Park, IL 60477
      • For more event information, please visit www.heartofamarine.org
  • Tuesday, Sept. 11ththrough Monday, Sept. 24th
    • Veterans Tribute Concert (from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 11thonly; Portrait of a Soldier viewing through Sept. 24th)
      • Kaskaskia College LLC, 27210 College Rd., Centralia, IL  62801
      • For more event information, please email: [email protected]
  • Chicago Public Library
    • Archer Heights Branch, 5055 South Archer Avenue, Chicago, IL  60632
    • For more event information, please call (312) 747-9241

Mattoon Artist Cameron Schilling drew the first portrait in August 2004, after Army SPC Charles Neeley, also of Mattoon, was killed in Iraq. Schilling gave the sketch to SPC Neeley’s parents to convey his sympathy for their loss. In October 2005, while a student at Eastern Illinois University, Schilling decided to draw a portrait of every Illinois service member who has fallen during the Global War on Terrorism.

For more information on the “Portrait of a Soldier” exhibit or to view the portraits online, please visit www.OperationHomefront.org.