{The Project} Our Story
The American Fallen Soldiers Project was formed to help provide comfort and healing to the grieving families of our fallen military. Our 501c3 non-profit organization makes available, at no cost to the family, an original portrait of their fallen loved one that fully captures their appearance and personality.
Since our inception in 2007, hundreds of our portraits have been presented to the Gold Star families during special events across the United States. However, with the arrival of new requests daily, there are countless families still to be helped. We can't do this alone. Please consider helping us continue this mission ... DONATE TODAY.
{View this video and watch our mission in action}
Since our inception in 2007, hundreds of our portraits have been presented to the Gold Star families during special events across the United States. However, with the arrival of new requests daily, there are countless families still to be helped. We can't do this alone. Please consider helping us continue this mission ... DONATE TODAY.
{View this video and watch our mission in action}
{Mission}
Our mission is to honor, respect and forever memorialize the American military service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation, comfort their mourning families, and inspire all Americans to know and recognize the price paid for our freedom.
Our mission is to honor, respect and forever memorialize the American military service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation, comfort their mourning families, and inspire all Americans to know and recognize the price paid for our freedom.
{Purpose}
With the desire to make a profound and lasting impact through our service to the Gold Star families, we work diligently to restore a sense of life and presence of their fallen hero on canvas, in hopes to provide a place where they can spend time with their loved one when they need them most. Our goal, and the heart of The American Fallen Soldiers Project, is to serve, comfort and encourage the Gold Star families unconditionally and impartially to the best of our ability. It is this commitment to excellence that defines our portraits, our staff and our organization. {Service We Provide} We provide a hand painted original portrait by artist Phil Taylor of America’s fallen military to their families. Upon completion, each portrait is personally presented to the family by the artist during a special event. Additionally for the family ...
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{How the Project Began}
Like so many Americans, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the thoughts of defending America’s freedom were a distant concern for Phil Taylor. It wasn’t that he didn’t care, but there was no direct connection, no one in his family was currently serving in the military. However, in June 2006 when he learned that a childhood friend, Capt. Blake Russell, was killed in Iraq, his life was changed. While attending the funeral and hearing the descriptions of Blake’s selfless commitment to his men and country, Phil was inspired to find his own true life’s purpose. Even though he had been a professional artist for over 25 years, Phil lacked a sense of fulfillment in his work. With a deep desire to serve and honor others and after much soul searching, he decided to offer his talent through art and paint a portrait of Blake as a gift for the Russell family. thumbnail The reaction from Blake’s father when he saw the completed painting changed Phil’s life forever. Through tears of gratitude Mr. Russell said, “I feel like you’ve brought him home to me.” From that moment both Phil and his wife, Lisa, knew they had to continue sharing this gift with as many families as possible, and so began their journey. |
The American Fallen Soldiers Project was founded on the principles to never let those who have sacrificed their life for our freedom be forgotten. We desire to continue our mission to serve our nation's Gold Star families and touch as many Americans as possible through these hero's stories, using any outlet that upholds the dignity and honor of the fallen and their family.