Macomb, IL – The "Portrait of a Soldier" exhibit gives viewers a chance to see the faces of 150 Illinois soldiers who gave their lives in the global war on terror. Those drawings are now on display in Macomb. The portraits can seen at the Spencer Recreation Center at WIU through Monday. 15 of those soldiers are from western Illinois, including Sergeant Jessica Housby of Milan. The Illinois Army National Guard soldier was 23 when she was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on February 9, 2005. Her mother, Deborah McWilliams, was at the opening of the exhibit in Macomb. She says her eyes still tear up every time she sees the portrait of her daughter. McWilliams thinks everyone should support the troops but adds the nation should not send soldiers to war unless they're fully equipped. She says the equipment was not up to par on the day her daughter died. You can listen to more of McWillams' comments by clicking on the audio button.
More information about the exhibit:
*The portraits were done by 23-year old Cameron Schilling of Mattoon. His first sketch was done in 2004 after a Mattoon resident was killed in Iraq. He then decided to memorialize every fallen Illinois soldier.
*The traveling exhibit will next be displayed in DeKalb.
*The soldiers from western Illinois whose portraits are included in the display are:
Air Force LT COL John Stein of Bardolph
Marine CPL Evan James of LaHarpe
Army Staff Sgt Lincoln Hollinsaid of Maiden
Army SPC Ryan Carlock of Macomb
Army SGT Landis Garrison of Rapids City
Marine SGT Matthew Adams of Rock Island
Marine CPL Joshua Palmer of Blandinsville
Army SGT Jessica Housby of Milan
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Hull of Princeton
Army SFC Kyle Wehrly of Galesburg
Army PFC Caleb Lufkin of Knoxville
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Gary Rovinski of Roseville
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jerry Tharp of Aledo
Air Force SA Daniel Miller, Jr of Galesburg
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer Valdivia of Cambridge