Kearns man creates wood portraits to comfort soldiers' families

KEARNS — Words penned by the grieving mother of a fallen soldier are blunt about the heartfelt loss, and the gratitude.

"Jonathan was my only child and the center of my universe," the letter reads. "It's been hard to try and find a balance in my life that allows me at least a little peace, but I keep working on it. Knowing that he is remembered and his sacrifice honored helps."

The letter of thanks was sent to Kearns resident Bob Morgan, a member of a national group called Portrait Freedom that taps the voluntary efforts of scroll saw enthusiasts to craft "portraits" out of wood to be given to family members of soldiers killed in action.

So far, about 1,000 portraits of the 3,500 men and women who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq in the war on terror have been completed. Since his own involvement began two years ago, Morgan has painstakingly finished about a dozen or so of the intricate portraits, including four soldiers from Utah.

Hunched over the saw in the cool confines of his garage, Morgan said the relatively little bit of time and money he spends through Portrait Freedom is minor compared to what families have paid.

"I feel a connection with everyone of these soldiers. Unless you've been there, you don't understand the brotherhood that comes from being in the military. I may not know them, but I know them in spirit. It's a healing thing for me."

Amy Alleman, the widow of Utah's first war casualty in 2009, said she regards Morgan's portrait of her husband,Micheal, a priceless treasure.

"The detail in it is amazing," she said. "Not only does the picture of Micheal bring me much comfort, but so does the fact that there are so many, like Bob Morgan, that are grateful for our soldiers' sacrifices and want to give what they can."

Morgan, 52, said there was no question of his involvement once he learned about the group.

"Being retired military, I instantly felt an obligation and duty to get involved in this project," said Morgan, a former senior master sergeant whose 20-year Air Force career took him to Okinawa and the Middle East, where he served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield.

Lauded for his actions in the Middle East after he returned home, Morgan said he never felt like a hero. "I was just doing my job. These people are the real heros. They didn't make it home."

The Portrait Freedom group first uses a team of four to five designers who craft patterns duplicating a photo of the soldier that has been submitted to them. From there, the "best" pattern is forwarded to the scroll saw artist, who is given a two-week window to complete two wood portraits of the soldier.