Steven Brousseau Pays Tribute to WWII Veteran Jack Moran for His 100th Birthday
“I’m very fortunate that this kid lived long enough to be this person here,” Moran said pointing to both sides of the portrait.
With Jack’s 100th birthday coming soon, Steven decided to create a “then and now” portrait of Jack and give it to him to celebrate Jack’s birthday. Jack was Steven’s tenth interviewee in 2018, and they have kept in touch since that time.
Jack was just 17 when he enlisted in the Army in September of 1943. In the summer of 1944, he was sent to England and then France where he found himself in the middle of the “Battle of the Bulge,” where in one-month over 19,000 Americans were dead. Of the 42 soldiers in his platoon, only Moran and one other soldier made it home. Moran believes that “Making it out alive means you’re here for a purpose, you’re on a mission.” He has shared his story with local high school students, at the 2023 Freedom Festival Gala in Georgia, and during the 2024 National Memorial Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol.
SoCal artist Steven Brousseau tribute to World War ll veteran for his 100th birthday with a unique, handmade drawing - ABC7 Los Angeles
"Meeting these veterans and hearing their stories isn't just research for me—it's an honor. My pencil and ink are my way of saluting them. By drawing their portraits, especially in this graphic novel style, I hope to give these heroes a tangible piece of their legacy back
. More importantly, I want to create something dynamic that will grab the attention of my generation, ensuring the incredible sacrifices made on V-E Day and V-J Day are never forgotten. Every story shared becomes a permanent panel in history, and I'm just the lucky artist who gets to draw it."
Steven Brousseau gifts 101-Year-Old WWII Veteran Bill Gosch with Original Portrait
William “Bill” Gosch, a 101-year-old World War II veteran from North Tonawanda, NY, spent time sharing his war stories and going through his collection of war keepsakes with California artist Steven Brousseau. During the visit, Brousseau also gave Bill a portrait he drew of the former Marine. ( Image copyrights belongs to The Buffalo News )
Brousseau learned about William “Bill” Gosch when Gosh’s story went viral on YouTube. Gosch agreed to the interview with Brousseau and the two formed a bond. They maintain a shared connection around a desire to ensure that the veterans’ experiences are not forgotten. Brousseau’s involvement stems from his belief that “Doing this is my way of serving them back as they have served us. I feel like it is something that I owe them.”
Bill Gosch proudly served his country during World War II and contributed to the Allied victory in the Pacific Theatres. Bill has lived in Western New York his entire life. He joined the Marine Corps at the age of 18 and embarked on a journey that led him through four combat missions. He became a member of the elite special forces team, the Carlson’s Raiders – 2nd Battalion and his service extended to the U.S. possession of Guam and culminated in the combat victory of Okinawa.
Bill’s portrait, illustrated by Steven Brousseau and gifted to Bill Gosch
A Tribute in Ink: Artist Steven Brousseau Honors Veterans at Reedley Dinner
The Reedley Historical Society's annual Fall Dinner became the stage for a deeply personal and moving gesture of gratitude, spearheaded by the talent of young Californian artist, Steven Brousseau. The evening, a pivotal fundraising event dedicated to supporting the Central Valley Honor Flight, culminated in the presentation of stunning, surprise portraits to several veterans.
Steven Brousseau, the creator behind these heartfelt gifts, is not just an artist; he is a passionate visual storyteller with a profound admiration for World War II history. His personal mission is an ambitious and incredibly touching endeavor: to personally meet every surviving veteran he can and gift them a creative, custom-made artwork inspired by their heroic service. This commitment drives him to connect the past with the present through art.
The portraits themselves are instantly recognizable by Steven's distinctive style. Working primarily with pencil and ink, he employs a striking, mostly monochromatic approach that gives his pieces the dramatic intensity of a classic graphic novel. This style powerfully captures the spirit and resilience of the heroes he depicts. Steven's artistic process is deeply collaborative; he uses these veteran's memories as the foundation for his own original graphic novels, preserving their stories and ensuring they are passed down to younger generations—a testament to the mutual appreciation between the artist and the heroes who are eager to share their experiences.
Held to raise crucial funding for the Central Valley Honor Flight—a program dedicated to flying veterans to Washington D.C. to visit their memorials—the dinner featured powerful speeches that transported guests back in time. Attendees were privileged to hear from World War II veterans Vern Schmidt and Norris Jernigan, who shared poignant and detailed accounts of the jubilant yet momentous end of the war, focusing on the significance of V-E Day (Victory in Europe) and V-J Day (Victory over Japan).
Steven Brousseau's artistic tribute served as a powerful reminder that while the stories of these veterans are historical, their impact is still being felt, and their memories are being actively preserved by a new, grateful generation.