Portraits of Honour rolls into Picton June 6

Dave Sopha, artist of ’Portraits of Honour’ talks with the Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Peter MacKay.

A 10′ x 50′ hand-painted mural of the 156 members of the Canadian Forces who have lost their lives as part of the mission to Afghanistan starts a journey across the country today.
The Portraits of Honour created by Cambridge Kinsman and artist Dave Sopha is to be unveiled at 8 Wing Trenton this morning and comes to Picton Monday, June 6.  The mural’s cross-country tour will collect money for the Military Family Fund and aims to raise $1.5 million through donations.
The mural has taken Kinsmen and volunteer artist Dave Sopha more 6,500 hours so far to create but the artist says his work won’t be complete until the combat mission in Afghanistan comes to a close in July.
The Kinette Club of Picton brings the Portraits of Honour National Tour to Picton and its members have planned a special ceremony in honour of its visit.
The Portraits of Honour National Tour is scheduled to be at the Picton Fairgrounds Monday, June 6, 2011 from 11am to 1pm.
“This is one of only four stops that the portrait will make during the month of June in this area and it will not be returning,” says Kinettes president Susan Eastbury. “Do your best to come out and view this heart-wrenching mural while you have the chance and before it’s installed in a city museum. ”
The tour is centred on the 10′ x 50′ oil painted mural featuring the hand painted portraits of the 155 Canadian soldiers, sailors and aircrew who have lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan. It will be toured across Canada in a specialized mobile display trailer. Funds raised will support the Military Families Fund and established military charities to assist families of the fallen and to assist the thousands of military personnel who return home with physical or emotional injuries.  Organizers will also seek to fund other charities that offer additional troop and family support that falls outside of the Military Families Fund mandate.
The Kinette Committee hopes to raise $1000 when the Tour stops in Picton.
“There are so many brave men and women who proudly wear the uniform of the Canadian Forces and so many strong families who remain behind to support them,” said Eastbury. “Many of them need financial assistance. We needed to make sure that ever dollar raised quickly finds its way to the people who most need it, and that our contribution will make a measurable difference in their quality of life.”
Kin Canada is Canada’s oldest all-Canadian service organization made up of men and women serving their communities from coast to coast to coast. With a 90-year history, Kin has raised more than $1 billion since its inception in 1920.
For information on the Portraits of Honour National Tour visit www.portraitsofhonour.ca.

The Portraits of Honour trailer as it enters the Highway of Heroes.