‘The Lost Heroes Art Quilt’ Continues National Tour at Airborne & Special Operations Museum

March 12, 2010 - PRLog -- FAYETTEVILLE, NC – 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 Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, NC, March 13-20.  

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 nine fallen heroes with roots in North Carolina:
•   Army Captain Christopher S. Cash represents North Carolina in the center of the Quilt
•   Army Captain Jeremy Alan Chandler was a member of the 1st Bn, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
•   Army Private First Class Robert H. Dembowski Jr. served with the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, NC
•   Army Staff Sergeant Justin M. Estes served with the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, NC
•   Marine Lance Corporal Daniel McVicker was stationed in North Carolina
•   Army Captain Christopher P. Petty was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina
•   Army Specialist Michael Rodriguez was from Sanford, NC, and assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC; his mother, Lorie Southerland, is bringing the Quilt to North Carolina
•   Army Private Bryan Nicholas Spry served with the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, NC
•   Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Keith Yoakum flew for the U.S. Army Parachute Team, The Golden Knights, out of Ft. Bragg, NC

‘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)

# # #

Strategy + Communications helps companies build their brands, drive prospects and help close sales faster and more easily through more consistent and compelling communications.
Every company has a unique story to tell, and we've helped craft it for Apple, IBM, Fujifilm, Ford Motors, BarnesandNoble.com, Fastrack Healthcare Systems and UBS, among others.
With our unique "both sides of the editor's desk" experience at leading newspapers, magazines and two of the world's largest public relations agencies, we know how to find good stories and turn them great stories about how a company's products make people live and work better every day.
What's your company's story?
Contact us today, and we'll help you tell it better and get it heard.