Portraits of Courage
A Commander In Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors
Daniel Casara by President George W. Bush
Oil on canvas
Michael R. Rodriguez by President George W. Bush
Oil on canvas
Leslie Zimmerman by President George W. Bush
Oil on canvas
©Photos by Grant Miller Photography, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Center
ON VIEW AUGUST 8 – DECEMBER 31, 2026
A vibrant collection of oil paintings and stories by President George W. Bush honoring the sacrifice and courage of America’s military veterans — and highlighting the work of the Bush Institute’s Veteran and Military Families.
Growing out of President Bush’s own outreach and the ongoing work of the George W. Bush Institute’s Veteran and Military Families, Portraits of Courage brings together sixty-six full-color portraits and a four-panel mural painted by President Bush of members of the United States military who have served our Nation with honor since 9/11—and whom he has come to know personally.
The Bush Institute’s Veteran and Military Families work helps post-9/11 veterans and their families make a successful transition to civilian life and addresses issues of veteran wellness, including post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.
NOTE: This exhibition is included in general admission to the museum
Our men and women in uniform have faced down enemies, liberated millions, and in doing so showed the true compassion of our Nation. Often, they return home with injuries—both visible and invisible—that intensify the challenges of transitioning into civilian life.
The Bush Institute’s Veteran Wellness Alliance is an innovative alliance that connects high-quality care providers and veteran peer networks to empower veterans to seek treatment. Asking for help with an issue of mental or brain health can be hard. And getting that help — in a system choked by red tape and bureaucracy — can be even harder. That’s why the Veteran Wellness Alliance built Check-In: a user-friendly tool designed to connect veterans with high-quality, compassionate care for mental and brain health.
Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors is a collection of portraits by President George W. Bush on loan from the Ambassador and Mrs. George L. Argyros Collection of Presidential Art at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, a non-profit organization whose veterans and military families programming is focused on helping veterans and their families make successful transitions to civilian life.
