In line with Disney’s commitment to creating happiness for veterans, military service members and their families, we’re excited to announce that the Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors exhibit was recently extended and will remain at Walt Disney World Resort for guests to enjoy through Spring 2026!
“I am grateful these portraits of our nation’s service members, painted by their former Commander-in-Chief, will continue to be available for guests to view at the American Adventure Pavilion at Disney’s EPCOT,” said Jason Galui, Director of Veterans and Military Families at the George W. Bush Institute. “Sharing veterans’ stories reminds all of us of their incredible courage, sacrifice, and resilience in defense of our nation – and of their continued contributions to our communities beyond their time in uniform.”
Pres. George W. Bush Portraits of Courage
The exhibit by former U.S. President George W. Bush brings together more than 60 vibrant oil portraits of service members and veterans who have served with honor since 9/11, and whom he has come to know personally since leaving office.
Our enduring appreciation for the U.S. Armed Forces is a legacy that started with our founders—Walt and Roy O. Disney, who both proudly served their country during World War I—making the American Adventure Pavilion the perfect home for the collection.
Portraits of Courage debuted at EPCOT on June 9, 2024, and since then, guests from around the world have had the opportunity to experience the collection and learn about the inspiring journeys of the veterans depicted.
Honoring Veterans Across the Country
Now, a new special, Our America: Portraits of Courage, tells these stories in-depth.
In celebration of National Military Appreciation Month, observed each May, Disney, ABC and the George W. Bush Institute will spotlight four veterans featured in the collection: Matthew S. Ayers, Andrew Bachelder, Brian Flom and Michael “Rod” Rodriguez.
The special dives into each service member’s journey, with President Bush’s reflections on the portraits and his ongoing work to support veterans.
These include tales of valiant service on the battlefield, resilience in recovering from injury to the continued leadership and contributions they make in their post-military careers.
The special is available on ABC News Live, Localish Networks and Hulu.
Military Hero Visits Portrait at EPCOT
One of the service members featured in the exhibit and new special is U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew S. Ayers, who had the opportunity to view his portrait during a recent family trip to Walt Disney World with his 17-year-old daughter Isabella and wife Deborah.
Sgt. Ayers has proudly served our country since 2003, starting in the U.S. Navy Reserve before transferring to the U.S. Army National Guard as a combat medic with the 19th Special Forces Group. Today, he continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Before spending a fun day at EPCOT, the trio explored the exhibit, while Sgt. Ayers shared stories about his experiences with the George W. Bush Institute and his acquaintances who are also featured in the gallery.
Service is a Family Business
Disney Parks are places that create happiness and enduring family memories. This is especially important for military families to enjoy time together in between times of extended separations as part of military service.
For the Ayers family, this visit was particularly meaningful, as Isabella was able to view her father’s portrait in person for the first time.
“Having the exhibit at Disney, you’re going to get people from all over the world that see it. I hope that they see that it’s something special,” said Sgt. Ayers. “Some of these guys lost some limbs, other guys ended up with traumatic brain injuries, and just to have some appreciation, that’s pretty cool.”
While he has largely recovered from his physical wounds, spending time with his family is one of the ways Sgt. Ayers continues to recover from the invisible wounds he acquired while deployed overseas. You can learn more about Sgt. Ayers’ story in the special, Our America: Portraits of Courage.
The Portraits of Courage exhibit includes information and resources created to support post 9/11 veterans such as Check-In, a tool that connects veterans, service members and their families to no cost, high-quality, mental and brain healthcare. To learn more about Check-In, visit Veterancheckin.org.
For more information about Disney’s ongoing salute for those who serve their country in uniform, visit our Veterans topic page.