Portraits of fallen soldiers seen in new COD exhibit
Their names appear in news reports, but it's so hard to picture the soldiers killed in Iraq.
The exhibit that opens today at the College of DuPage seeks to cross that hurdle by personalizing the men and women who've died in military service since Sept. 11, 2001.
It's a display of 170 sketches of Illinois soldiers killed in the "Global War on Terror" that were drawn by 24-year-old Cameron Schilling of Mattoon.
Lt. Governor Pat Quinn will open "Portrait of a Soldier" today at 11:30 a.m. at the Glen Ellyn school, 425 Fawell Blvd. The exhibit's on the second floor of the library in the Student Resource Center.
Schilling created his first sketch in 2004 for the family of a soldier in his hometown, then decided to continue by memorializing all the fallen soldiers in Illinois.
When his work came to the attention of Quinn, he decided to highlight the work, said Carolyn Brown Hodge, director of rural affairs for Quinn's office.
"We're trying to get to every university in the state because so many of the soldiers come from that age group," she said.
Overall, Schilling's created more than 170 portraits, though not all families want the creations included in the exhibit.
As it travels around the state, she said, families of soldiers living near the displays are invited to attend the opening ceremonies.
Quinn will be joined by David and Anne Larson, parents of Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Larson of Wheaton; Joseph and Gloria Caruso, parents of Marine Sgt. David Caruso of Naperville; Jesse and Judy Alcozer, father and stepmother of Army Pfc. Christopher Alcozer of Villa Park; Wade Kaiser, father of Marine Lance Cpl. Adam Kaiser of Naperville; and Mike and Terri Gilbert, parents of Marine Sgt. Thomas Gilbert of Downers Grove.
'Portrait of a Soldier'
What: Exhibit of 170 portraits of Illinois soldiers killed since Sept. 11, 2001.
Where: Student Resource Center, second floor library, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn
When: Opening ceremony at 11:30 today. Exhibit continues through Tuesday. Hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; and 7:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Cost: Free
Details: (630) 942-2952.