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MCC to unveil art memorial to soldiers

Lt. Governor Pat Quinn will unveil a "Portrait of a Soldier" memorial exhibit at 12:30 p.m. Friday at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

The exhibit, which travels throughout Illinois, is a series of hand-drawn portrait copies of more than 170 Illinois men and women who have died in service to the country since Sept. 11, 2001.

"Portrait of a Soldier" will be on display through Wednesday in the MCC Commons area, Building B of the college.

Artist Cameron Shilling, 24, of Mattoon drew the first portrait in August 2004 after Army SPC Charles Neeley, also of Mattoon, was killed in Iraq.

Schilling gave the sketch to 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 Terror.

Quinn will be joined by state Sen. Pamela Althoff; Jim Gray, vice president for Learning and Student Support Services at MCC; and other local representatives.

For details, visit www. operationhomefront.org.

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