More from Northwest News Network (N3)
Living In Gangland: Former Gang Member Makes New Life
(00:05:09)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
CALDWELL, Idaho - Most new gang members join when they’re about 13 years old. They think the gang will give them prestige, a sense of belonging and protection. But it often ...
Living In Gangland: Some Women Don’t Choose Gang Life, But It Affects Them Nonetheless
(00:04:46)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. -- Across the nation there are an estimated 750-thousand gang members. That’s according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Some of them are women, but ...
Living In Gangland: Outlook Community Activist Wants A Town Where People Aren’t Afraid
(00:05:13)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
OUTLOOK, Wash. – Outlook, Washington is a tiny unincorporated township near Yakima. It’s mostly known for the massive dairies that flank it. But now, it’s become infamous as ...
Living In Gangland: Rural Gangs Claim Public Lands
(00:05:05)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
Gang violence is mostly a big city problem. But in parts of the rural Northwest, police are grappling with gang rivalries, graffiti and even drive-by shootings. Just ask ...
When Farming and Housing Collide in Noise
(00:03:34)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
Creativity trumps lawsuits over farmers use of noise to protect crops
Army Trains US Soldiers to Speak Arabic
(00:02:58)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
The Army is starting to rely less on Iraqi-born translators to manage war relations.
Hummingbird Bander
(00:02:09)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
audio postcard of man who bands hummingbirds
Quilting through Grief over Iraq War
(00:04:34)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
NW quilt makers harnessed to comfort Iraq vets
History of the Tator Tot
(00:03:49)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
Tater Tots: From Cattle Feed to Retro Cache
Iraqi war translator struggles with new life in America
(00:03:45)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
Profile of an Iraqi who came to Seattle as a political refugee
Related Pieces
Piece Description
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what then is the value of a hand-drawn portrait? It?s powerful comfort for the families of fallen U-S troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. That at least is what they tell the incredibly productive artist who draws the portraits for free. Northwest News Network Correspondent Tom Banse has this profile of a gifted Vietnam Vet with new mission.
Broadcast History
Ran on stations that are members of the Northwest News Network, including OPB, KLCC, JPR, KMUN, BSR, NWPR, KPBX, KUOW and KPLU
Transcript
Sound: [pencil scratching]
Michael Reagan (REE-gun) leans over his drawing table to work on portrait number one thousand-two hundred-fifty one of a fallen soldier. On the illustration board, a young man in dress uniform takes form. Reagan shades the creases in the beret... the faint smile on the face. The professional artist pauses frequently to sharpen his pencils...
Sound: [pencil sharpener]
...and only infrequently to erase.
Reagan: ?I had an art teacher who once said, if you have to erase, you might as well throw the piece away.?
Reagan has a formal boot camp photograph provided by the soldier?s family to guide him. His detailed and realistic pencil portrait will take about five hours to complete. He tries to finish two per day.
Sound: [more pencil scratching]
The Edmonds, Washington man has been in the portrait business for four decades. He?s...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
Portrait artist on a mission to paint the fallen
0806TB_Portrait.wav 3:44 feature 8/6/08 Tom Banse/O?Hara Impact of War
Lead:
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what then is the value of a hand-drawn portrait? It's powerful comfort for the families of fallen U-S troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. That at least is what they tell the incredibly productive artist who draws the portraits for free. Northwest News Network Correspondent Tom Banse has this profile of a gifted Vietnam Vet with new mission.
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