"The Lost Heroes Art Quilt’ Continues National Exhibit Tour at Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery

Feb. 2, 2010 - PRLog -- MONTGOMERY, AL – A gift to the nation honoring America’s fallen heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan, “The Lost Heroes Art Quilt” continues its national tour at the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, AL, today through February 6.  

Artist Julie Feingold created the 5.5-foot by 15-foot Quilt as a non-political contemporary work of art.  It includes 82 heroes reflecting the diversity of America – 50 in the center of the Quilt representing each state in the U.S. and 32 around the border.  A photograph and poignant words describing each hero’s unique personality, interests, dreams and hopes appear around each hero’s square on the Quilt, permanently memorializing each life.  

Local Fallen Heroes
The Quilt includes four fallen heroes with roots in Alabama:
•   Army Specialist Andrew F. Chris represents Alabama in the center of the Quilt
•   Army Major William F. Hecker III spent some of his childhood in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
•   Army Chief Warrant Officer Clint J. Prather was stationed at Fort Rucker in Alabama
•   Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Keith Yoakum, who is in the Army Aviation Hall of Fame at Fort Rucker, AL. His wife, Phoebe, lives in Enterprise, AL, as does his twin brother.

‘What We Do in Life Echoes in Eternity’
“The ‘Lost Heroes Art Quilt’ honors and remembers those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” said Ms. Feingold.  “By recognizing their character, I hope to inspire others to find their own path toward community service and active citizenship.  If you take just one name with you and remember it, our heroes will not be forgotten – the actions of a single person can make a powerful difference.”

The Quilt was dedicated at the Families United Gold Star Family Dinner in Washington, DC, last fall and included in the keystone “Time of Remembrance” event at the U.S. Capitol, sponsored by the White House Commission on Remembrance. The Quilt began its national exhibition tour at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitors Center.
         
About the American Heroes Art Projects Foundation
The American Heroes Art Projects Foundation is a grass roots volunteer non-profit organization. In addition to its mission to use the communicative power of art to honor and remember the character of the people and families who give so much in service to our country, the foundation focuses on public education and a call to action.  The foundation offers a companion art book to the Quilt that features in-depth stories of each hero on the Quilt, the names of all that have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan as of July 4, 2009, and a full-color fold-out photograph of the artwork.  Edited by Gold Star Mother Nancy Hecker, the book is available at museum shops and online at www.LostHeroesArtQuilt.org with proceeds after expenses going to Snowball Express, the organization assisting the children of the fallen.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
•   Ruth Stonesifer, President of the American Gold Star Mothers.  Her son, Army Private First Class Kristofor Stonesifer, represents Montana in the center of the Quilt.
•   Nancy Hecker, Gold Star Mother of Army Major William F. Hecker III, who represents Missouri in the center of the Quilt.  She is also editor of the Quilt’s companion art book.
•   Julie Feingold, the artist who created the Quilt

Media Contact for Lost Heroes Art Project and U.S. Exhibition Tour   
Strategy + Communications
Randy Savicky, 203-226-6156, randy@strategypluscommunications.com
(Public Relations Agency Donating Its Services in Support of the Lost Heroes Art Project and U.S. Exhibition Tour)

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