Painter Honors Fallen Military

A Highland Park painter is working to give the families of fallen soldiers one more lasting tribute to their loved ones.

Ellen Moore has painted several portraits for local families of soldiers lost in Afghanistan or Iraq.

"I can't say I'm bringing him back to life, but I am honoring him and the life that he lived," she said.

It's one more way to make sure their sacrifices are not forgotten, Moore said.

"I want their loss not to be in vain,โ€ she said.

โ€œA painting is something you can pass down from generation to generation,โ€ Moore said. โ€œIt's kind of like this person will keep living through all the generations of the family; they'll pass this portrait down and this will be the son that died in the war in Afghanistan."

Moore started this journey with a portrait of Staff Sgt. Shawn McNabb, of Terrell, who was killed last year when his helicopter went down in Afghanistan.

"He was a big Texas fan, and he wore that hat, and that's what I kind of think of," she said.

Moore uses photographs as reference.

"And then I just try to do the best job I can and make it really beautiful,โ€ she said.

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