View Single Post
Old 09-07-2002, 01:00 PM   #9
Michele Rushworth Michele Rushworth is offline
CAFE & BUSINESS MODERATOR
SOG Member
FT Professional
 
Michele Rushworth's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 3,460
I would agree that doing and presenting the firefighter portrait also made me feel more honored and humbled than any other volunteer project I've ever done.

The firefighter I painted, Doug Oelschlager, was a loving family man with two young daughters. I also have two small daughters so I could relate in a very personal way to this man's life, at least outside of his role as firefighter. I wish I had known him.

I was in New York to present the painting to his widow just a few days ago. Afterwards she and I, accompanied by several NYFD firefighters, visited Ground Zero together. That was a moving experience I will never forget.

The widow and I have become good friends, though we had only spoken on the phone before I presented her with the painting. She told me yesterday that having the portrait in her home makes her feel like he is there, in a way, and that it makes her feel comforted for the first time since his death.
__________________
Michele Rushworth
www.michelerushworth.com
[email protected]
  Reply With Quote