The Hotwash Presents: Fallen Hero's Project, USMC Vietnam Vet/Artist Mike Reagan

The Hotwash with CJ

Mike is creating portraits of all the Fallen, free of charge for families. So far, he has completed over 4800 free portraits. In 2007 he was awarded the American Legion’s Patriot Award and in 2009 the VFW Commander in Chief Gold Medal of Merit. In 2010 he was named the 2010 Veteran Volunteer of the Year in Washington State. In 2013 the Department of the Army awarded him The Outstanding Civilian Service Medal. In March 2015, the Lynnwood Elks presented him the General Douglas MacArthur Award, And on March 25, 2015 he was awarded the Citizen Service Before Self Honor (known to some as The Civilian Medal of Honor) by the Medal of Honor Foundation in Washington DC. On April, 10, 1968, after serving his country as in the USMC, Michael returned home from Vietnam. He knew he had been spared for a reason and needed to discover what that reason was. While in ‘Nam, Michael drew portraits of his fellow Marines. In some cases, those images were all that returned home. Since that time, Michael has completed over 10,000 portraits of more 2,000 different celebrities and notable personalities. His art is so popular that his method of obtaining priceless autographs has changed. Now when he draws portraits he asks the celebrity to autograph as many as 10 blank illustration boards. He continues to donate these images to fund-raisers throughout the nation. Michael’s collection includes Bob Hope, Katherine and Audrey Hepburn, Red Skelton, and Ingrid Bergman. He has done drawings of every Heisman Trophy winner and many NFL Hall of Fame members. After working with five U.S. Presidents, Michael was asked to draw a special piece to commemorate President George W. Bush’s election and a portrait of the First Lady, Laura Bush.