ORLANDO, Fla. — Becoming a member of the navy was one thing Matthew Ayers at all times knew he wished to do, he simply did not know when.
“The towers have been hit,” he recalled, “like plenty of different Individuals I made a decision, hey, now’s the time.”
“Our America: Portraits of Braveness” honors the heroic tales of veterans painted by George W. Bush in his tribute ebook “Portraits of Braveness.” These vibrant work spotlight the braveness and sacrifice of Americas navy veterans and are actually on show at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.
Ayers, featured within the particular, began his navy profession as a corpsman in the US Navy. Later, he converted to the Military as a medic in particular forces the place he’s at present in psychological operations.
Throughout his profession, he was deployed twice and was injured throughout one deployment to Afghanistan. He sustained bodily accidents to his hip and again, together with long-lasting psychological wounds.
“The psychological aspect of it’s the lengthy haul proper, you do not know when this stuff are going to return in and what is going on to set off some type of reminiscence,” Ayers mentioned, “however for me, my journey has been principally creating, as a substitute of being offended and upset about what occurred to me or consistently dwelling on it, I prefer to develop an angle of gratitude is what I prefer to name it.”
His spouse Debbie and daughter Isabella stood by his aspect throughout his restoration and praised his accomplishments and skill to beat what he went by means of whereas nonetheless being a gift and loving father:
“He is an ideal father, that is in all probability what I am most proud about,” shared Debbie.
“Even when he has to exit for the weekends, if I’ve a dance competitors or like a celebration, he’ll at all times make certain to get out early to be on time there and simply to be there,” mentioned his daughter Isabella.
Ayers was painted by George W. Bush and is featured within the “Portraits of Braveness” ebook. He and his household flew out to the Walt Disney World Resort for a trip, but in addition to indicate Isabella his portrait on the American Journey Pavilion for the very first time.
“It is thrilling, its emotional . He is painted for a cause. I want none of those guys and gals have been painted. It is an entire vary of feelings: proud, unhappy however we’re very happy with him and it is very thrilling, it is fairly cool, it is fairly cool,” mentioned Debbie after they noticed the portraits.
“When different veterans see their portraits, I hope that they really feel gratitude. They be ok with what they did, concerning the stuff that they carry with them,” mentioned Ayers of the expertise.
“I hope that it provides them the chance to type of let it go and transfer on with their lives and see that good blue sky once they stroll out of those doorways and simply respect every part that is round them.”
The Portraits of Braveness are on show on the American Journey Pavilion in Epcot on the Walt Disney World Resort by means of Summer time of 2026.
Watch the complete particular “Our America: Portraits of Braveness” streaming now on Hulu.
Disney is the father or mother firm of ABC and this station.
