Walt Disney World introduced it’ll host “Portraits of Braveness: A Commander’s Tribute to America’s Warriors,” a particular exhibit from the George W. Bush Institute, for a 12-month gallery inside The American Journey pavilion. This publish shares particulars and dates of the set up, plus our commentary about this addition to EPCOT.
Rising out of President George W. Bush’s private dedication and the continuing work of the Bush Institute’s Veterans and Army Households program, the exhibit at EPCOT brings collectively greater than 60 full-color portraits painted by President Bush of service members and veterans who’ve served the nation with honor since 9/11. President George W. Bush has come to know these veterans personally since leaving workplace.
“Celebrating those that give a lot to our nation has been a part of the material of The Walt Disney Firm all through our 100-year historical past,” mentioned Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “We’re grateful to the Bush Institute for permitting us to function this particular assortment and share it with our company.”
Every portray is accompanied by the inspiring story of the veteran depicted and Walt Disney World company visiting the exhibit will be taught extra about these army heroes’ journey. These embrace tales of valiant service on the battlefield, resilience in recovering from damage to the continued management and contributions they make of their post-military careers. Even higher is that every story was personally written by President Bush himself.
“We’re thrilled Portraits of Braveness will likely be on show for EPCOT guests to expertise this 12 months,” mentioned Ken Hersh, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Heart. “My hope is that those that have the chance to see this particular exhibit will even bear in mind the management, service, and sacrifice behind every of the heroes painted and the distinctive challenges our servicemembers and their households face when transitioning out of the army.”
“Portraits of Braveness: A Commander’s Tribute to America’s Warriors” by President Bush will open within the American Journey on June 9, 2024 and can run for roughly 12 months. This exhibit begins the day earlier than CommuniCore Corridor opens, and the brand new Encanto sing-along debuts at EPCOT.
The exhibit at EPCOT will even embrace data and sources created to help publish 9/11 veterans and their households. A kind of sources, known as Test-In, is a device for veterans and their households to simply connect with no price, high-quality, psychological and mind well being care. To be taught extra about Test-In, go to Veterancheckin.org.
Walt Disney World signifies it has way more in retailer over the approaching weeks as the corporate acknowledges Nationwide Army Appreciation Month. This contains Disney Shopper Merchandise internet hosting a collection of Disney VoluntEARS occasions alongside the Disney SALUTE veteran worker useful resource group in each Glendale, CA and Orlando, FL to assemble 4,000 USO care packages for deployed army service members. The USO Care Bundle Program is designed to offer service members with a connection to residence whereas they’re serving abroad in difficult situations.
The Walt Disney Firm has labored with the USO since 2003 on numerous initiatives corresponding to care packages, household room renovations, USO/character excursions and film screenings. By the tip of the month, the Disney VoluntEARS may have had the distinction of assembling an astonishing 16,000 care packages this 12 months to this point for deployed army service members.
We sit up for celebrating Nationwide Army Appreciation Month with extra occasions main as much as us welcoming again the Division of Protection Warrior Video games to Walt Disney World from June 21 to 30, 2024.
Turning to commentary, I love this. That will be equally true if former Presidents Carter or Clinton had painted these portraits–or if “Portraits of Braveness: A Commander’s Tribute to America’s Warriors” had been by no president in any respect. From my perspective, this has completely nothing to do with politics. It’s about Disney honoring veterans with a portrait gallery of service members.
Admittedly, I do suppose it’s significantly cool that these are by a president; there’s a sure cachet that comes with a former president having painted these portraits that wouldn’t be the case if it had been the identical artwork by another person. These being by President Bush will appeal to extra consideration than if this gallery had been by an unknown artist, which is an effective factor–the extra eyeballs, the higher.
Displays like this–and actually, the American Journey as a complete–are precisely what the US wants extra of in these unnecessarily charged and polarized occasions. Workout routines in patriotism as a substitute of politics that remind us of our shared historical past and the way, even at the moment, we’re extra alike than we’re totally different. It looks as if in every single place you look, there’s an inclination to foment rage–so that is considerate counterprogramming to that.
I’m additionally actually happy to see Walt Disney World doing this, particularly at a time when the corporate has grow to be extra of a frequent fixture of tradition wars and, because of this, erroneously accused of being unpatriotic (and extra) in some circles. To anybody who truly visits Walt Disney World or Disneyland, that’s clearly nonsense.
Few Individuals ever had been extra patriotic than Walt Disney. He was so distinctly patriotic that he even tried to hitch the Military in 1918 however was rejected for being too younger. Walt Disney went on to serve his nation in some ways, and that legacy continues to be carried on at each Walt Disney World and Disneyland to this present day.
Whole lands like Primary Avenue USA or Liberty Sq. are, in my opinion, patriotic. Then there are the extra overt points of interest, like Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln, The American Journey, and Corridor of Presidents. I might additionally argue that Carousel of Progress, Electrical Water Pageant, and extra are patriotic. There are a number of little ways in which Disney celebrates America that go unnoticed by most company.
We make some extent of spending each Fourth of July within the parks, largely as a result of I can suppose few locations extra patriotic than Disney. (Okay okay, and the fireworks.) Final 12 months was our first time doing Disneyland shortly, and I used to be a bit shocked by simply what number of army bands had been performing in each parks (Anaheim is pretty near San Diego, so it is smart). There have been additionally tons of picture ops celebrating America and flag retreat was significantly poignant that day.
The underside line is that if there are extra patriotic theme parks than Disney, I haven’t visited them. And what separates Walt Disney World and Disneyland from different ostensibly patriotic parks is that it’s substantive and never superficial window dressing. Disney showcases what it actually means to be patriotic in honest and considerate methods.
The previous few years have been fraught with controversy and political standoffs between Disney and each California and Florida, main some to query the corporate’s values. However the actuality is that Disney has all the time been patriotic, and patriotism just isn’t the identical as politics. Typically it’s good to have a reminder of that distinction.
Earlier than wrapping this up, we’ll put a plug in to take a look at the 2024 U.S. Army Salute Ticket & Resort Reductions at Walt Disney World. Should you’re lively or retired US army personnel, you’re eligible for a few of the best possible reductions. Don’t even hassle with most people particular provides, because the army ones are all the time superior financial savings.
Even with these wonderful resort room charges, you may as a substitute try our evaluate of the wonderful Shades of Inexperienced Resort. My dad is retired army, and we sometimes stayed at Shades of Inexperienced (as soon as it existed) after I was rising up. We’ve stayed there once more within the final a number of years, and it was wanting nice because of its final overhaul.
My dad and mom have stayed at Shades of Inexperienced much more just lately, and my dad nonetheless loves it. He prefers to remain there for the camaraderie and since (methods to put this delicately…) youngsters are typically extra disciplined there, and he has some robust opinions on that. He doesn’t actually do rides anymore, so I’m fairly optimistic he wouldn’t need to go to Walt Disney World if it weren’t for the resort!
Shades of Inexperienced is positioned within the Magic Kingdom space, however sadly is not walkable from Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Since Shades of Inexperienced was once a Disney-owned Deluxe Resort, its rooms are considerably bigger than Worth or Average Resorts. Moreover, the meals is way more moderately priced. Costs at Shades of Inexperienced are based mostly upon military-ranking.
Finally, it’s good to see Walt Disney World as soon as once more honor veterans and shine a lightweight on the tales of service members featured in President Bush’s portraits. Too typically, the army is considered as an abstraction and other people aren’t conscious of the sacrifices these people and their households have made for our nation.
This exhibit ought to assist humanize them, and is totally within the spirit of EPCOT Heart’s mission of edutainment. And personally, I believe it’s simply actually cool to have a former president’s art work on show at Walt Disney World. I’m truthfully extra excited to see this than all the different stuff opening at EPCOT on the subsequent day.
My private pleasure apart, I’m glad Disney is doing this. It ought to be a wanted win that’ll be well-received by broad swaths of most people, and comes at a time when Disney has had loads of PR own-goals. This exhibit ought to show highly effective and can assist generate goodwill amongst not simply members of the army–but in addition these in most people who admire the truth that the Walt Disney Firm continues to reside as much as its historic legacy of honoring service.
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Your Ideas
Do you have got any ideas on “Portraits of Braveness: A Commander’s Tribute to America’s Warriors” by President George W. Bush? Wanting ahead to seeing the previous president’s gallery of portraits, or are you distinctly unpatriotic? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
