“Forgotten Heroes,” a Moving Tribute Generously Gifted by VVA Massachusetts State Council

by Matthew Simmons

Prominently displayed for the 702 Vietnam veteran-delegates sitting in rows in the echoing convention hall at VVA’s 2021 National Convention, propped against the stage, sat Massachusetts artist Brian Fox’s painting Forgotten Heroes, a generous gift from the VVA Massachusetts State Council. An imposing oil canvas painted in muted tones of brown, burnt umber, and black, it depicts four Army “grunts” emerging from a jungle that seems to be trying to swallow them whole. At the bottom of the image is a black and gray graphic of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the words, “Never Forget.”

The overall mood of the painting is somber and, momentarily, quiet. No one is speaking; no shots are being fired, no bombs are going off. The soldier in the foreground of the painting is clutching a set of dog tags in one hand, suggesting that they have lost another of their brothers-in-arms, and his dog tags were all they could recover. The viewer feels the oppressive heat, the pain, and the overwhelming fatigue of this close-knit group of men. Although none of them are looking at each other, their brotherhood is unquestionable.

With such an impactful piece, it was no surprise that throughout the week of the Convention, many veterans were drawn to the painting and came to the front of the hall to take it in. Many of those vets had a visceral response, in the same way that soldiers get choked up when “Taps” plays. The painting works as a portal, transporting them back to their own time in the service. One veteran, visibly moved at seeing the piece, said its impact on him was “indescribable.” Another Vietnam veteran who worked on the committee that commissioned the work commented, “The day members of our committee met with Brian to discuss our experiences in Vietnam, it was a very emotional session, indeed. From that day forward, the project took on a life of its own. Working with Brian … and others on the committee has truly relieved a hidden pain I have carried through life for some 42 years.”

The soldiers are filthy, heavily armed, and each staring blankly in a different direction. Three of them are visibly wounded, one more seriously with a bandage covering his eyes, who is being supported by one of his comrades. The soldier in the foreground of the painting has an M-60 machine gun balanced on one shoulder and is clutching a set of dog tags in his other hand, reminder of a fallen brother. (Dimensions 40” x 30.5”)

Brian Fox, an artist operating in the Boston area, is no stranger to lending his talent to help raise money and awareness for causes he supports, having previously worked with groups to support abused women and youth education. He was approached by the committee for the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Fall River, Massachusetts, who reached out to collaborate with him after seeing his commissioned piece for the TV miniseries Band of Brothers, his first work depicting a military figure. Fox is acutely aware of how well a piece of art can preserve a moment in history, so he knew Forgotten Heroes would help raise funds and awareness for the Fall River Wall, honoring all Vietnam-era veterans in the process.

Fox’s goal at the outset of the project was to “capture the essence of the men who went over there and didn’t come back.” He wanted to ensure every aspect of it was perfect, so he consulted various in-country veterans who provided insight into the details of the uniforms, weapons, and equipment. He ends his own artist’s caption of the painting by quoting Maya Lin, the architect of the Wall, “whose words sum up perfectly what we should ‘never forget’: ‘The price of human life in war should always be clearly remembered.’”

Fox has always been a supporter of veterans, with his father having served in the Navy, but this project helped him realize how powerful his art could be in terms of veteran advocacy. The Forgotten Heroes series received a lot of traction and visibility, significantly helping to secure the funding necessary to complete the Fall River Wall.

The impact of Fox’s work has spread to both the Boston Statehouse and the Massachusetts’ Governor’s office, where prints of Forgotten Heroes now hang. VVA’s donated print will remain at the National Office in the executive conference room for staff and visitors alike to enjoy.

For information about the Fall River Wall visit http://vietnammemorialwall.org. For more on Brian Fox and his other work, visit http://www.brianfoxstudios.com.


To view a short video about the making of this painting, click here.  




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