Project Title: In Memoriam

Project Timeline: October 5th-December 2nd

Project Description:

As of 2015, Over 160 females have been killed in the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) campaigns. That's 160 moms, daughters, sisters, and wives who will never come home to their families, and I could have been one of them. Thanks to the thorough training of my soldiers and the grace of God, I survived. As a 10 year veteran who has come as far as I have in my recovery, these jarring statistics inspired me to create something to declare solidarity with these women; to declare to the world that all of the women who fought in OIF/OEF campaigns were brave and courageous, and that their sacrifices were not in vain.

To commemorate their lives, I want to create a collection of ten special pieces of fine jewelry that represents ten different women who were lost. I am in the process of contacting the families of these women, asking them to tell me all about their fallen military member in order to create a piece that she would have a special intimacy with and would truly enjoy wearing. I am creating these pieces as of right now so that I have a collection of jewelry to propose an exhibition to the Witte Museum in time for Veteran's Day, 2017.

10% of the profits from each sale will be donated to the memorial fund for each individual woman.

If you receive the grant, how will the funds support your project?

Receiving this grant would mean having the funds to purchase all the materials necessary to create the perfect piece. These materials include fine metals and gemstones, as well as boxes to present the jewelry in. It would also allow us to have the collection professionally photographed.

Project #2: In Memoriam

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