"Eyes of Sacrifice"
April 14, 2025
Each year, more than 4,000 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. The contest began in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth.
This year, Sophomore, Pueo Franz, qualified at the local level; her entry has been submitted to the VFW Auxiliary Chairman of Scholarships for consideration at the state level.
The title of her piece is Eyes of Sacrifice
Pueo's artist statement read:
"Eyes of Sacrifice explores the theme of patriotism by capturing the shared identity between a young soldier and an aging veteran. Split down the center, the portrait presents two faces—one just beginning a life of service, the other marked by the passage of time and experience. Though different in age, their expressions and eyes are unified, representing the continuity of duty, honor, and sacrifice across generations.
By using detailed graphite pencil work, I focused on realism to emphasize the emotional depth and humanity behind military service. There are no added symbols or distractions—just the individuals themselves. The absence of color reinforces the seriousness of the subject and reflects the enduring, unchanging values at the heart of patriotic service.
This piece expresses patriotism not through dramatic imagery, but through the quiet strength of those who serve. It’s about the lifelong weight of that decision—the pride, the cost, and the bond that connects every generation of service members. Patriotism, in this work, is not just about national pride, but about making personal sacrifice and accepting extraordinary responsibility by choosing to protect something larger than oneself."
We are extremely proud of Pueo's beautiful and meaninful masterpiece.
Go Cardinals!
