Submitted
Red Deer will soon host a special event to honour the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces who put their lives on the line every day, and have made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan.
Kin Canada commenced a national tour of the Portraits of Honour in June whereby Canadians will have an opportunity to view the large mural that features a portrait of every fallen soldier. Volunteer organizations from every province have hosted events to showcase the mural, and Red Deer is no exception.
The mural will be on display for two days down the Boulevard of Heroes at the main entrance of Red Deer College from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 16 and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 17.
This Red Deer tour stop of the Portraits of Honour is being hosted by the Kinsmen and Rotary Clubs of central Alberta. The Kinsmen and Rotary Clubs of central Alberta have a goal to raise $100,000 in support of the Kin Canada national tour to assist families of the fallen soldiers. In addition, the service clubs hope to raise additional funds that will remain in central Alberta to provide scholarships to soldiers who have served in Afghanistan and their families.
The Portraits of Honour mural now stretches 10 feet tall by 50 feet wide and features the faces of the 156 Canadian soldiers, sailors and aircrew that lost their lives in Afghanistan. Originally started in artist Dave Sopha’s home, it quickly took up too much space and was moved into the basement space of Kin Canada’s headquarters in Cambridge, Ont.
The Portraits of Honour National Tour (POH) commenced on June 1, 2011 and will take approximately one year to complete its national journey.