My Nonprofit Reviews

“Always Remembered - Never Forgotten” is the motto of Portrait of a Warrior Gallery. Throughout the Gallery’s more than 20 exhibits and displays which honor sacrifices made by Kern Counties veterans and Gold Star families, that motto is evident. The docents do their best to keep alive the memories and service of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.
The original portraits of Kern County’s Post 9/11 veterans are unique life story portraits that include within them vignettes portraying memories provided by the Gold Star Families to local artists Nellie Scarborough, Thomas Zachery and David Vanderpool.
After my first tour of Portrait of a Warrior Gallery just over a year ago, I knew this was a special place that I wanted to be a part of. I immediately volunteered to become a docent. I wanted to do my part to honor those who have served in our military and especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Most of our docents are veterans, or retirees, some are paid VA Work Studies (a benefit from their post 9/11 military service), and we even have some high school volunteers.
If you visit the Gallery, I hope you will spend a few minutes at the powerfully emotional 22 A Day Wall. This display is dedicated to making the public more aware of the terribly high suicide rate of active military and veterans. Docents help our visitors understand more about this ongoing national tragedy.

At the Gallery, several non-profit Veteran groups, or non-profit groups who provide services to Veterans, have their monthly, bi-monthly or weekly meetings. Some are for PTSD and Combat Trauma healing, some are Veteran peer groups and one is for Military Women. This is a very special way we can help support the needs of local Veterans. Portrait of a Warrior Gallery also lists nearly 200 resources available to local veterans on our website, continuing in their determination to Always Remember and Never Forget, not just those who were killed in action, but ALL of our Veterans.