Event Name: Living Legends Art Exhibition and Award Ceremony.
Who: Fire Fighters / First responders / USAF Airmen.
Date of Award ceremony: Saturday 27 September 2025.
Where: Tempe Fire Training Center. 1340 E University Dr, Tempe, AZ 85288
Event start time: 9am. Ending: 10am.
What you will receive as a participant: A framed, complimentary Living Legacy portrait painting of you by Yvonne Wan. A certificate of Honor signed by our dignitaries. A professional photoshoot of you without watermarks. An opportunity to receive your United States ceremonial honors as you walk under the US Air Force Saber Arch.
If you would like to participate, please email us today at : [email protected]
The only information you need to communicate with us is the following:
- Your full name:
- Your current job title :
- If you are a fire fighter, your fire station:
- An indication on whether you can attend the event on September 27th September (optional)
- A photo of you
Expectations:
- Attendance at the award ceremony is optional. If you are available to attend, the event takes place Saturday 27th September at Tempe Fire training facility. Please collect your complimentary portraits and honors on stage at the event. Event starts 9am. Ends 10am. We prefer that the award recipients arrive at 8am to receive their complimentary photoshoot.
- For those who can make it: Fire fighters / first responders are expected to attend in their formal shirt uniform. US Air Force reps are expected to wear their Blues uniform.
Deadline: We will close the call for participants as soon as we receive 30 headshots.
We are proud to announce that we will be honoring 30 local fire fighters/first responders /Airmen by immortalizing them as part of a prestigious fine art exhibition spotlighting their contribution to society. The award ceremony honors local fire fighters, first responders and airmen for their courage; sacrifice, selfless service, patriotism, compassion and leadership.
We are seeking 31 fire fighters/ first responders to participate in this art exhibit and prestigious award ceremony. The US Air Force will be sending one of the worlds most prestigious honor guards to honor our fire fighters by performing the Presentation of colors ceremony during the National Anthem (Singer: A1c Ashley Mendez Luke Air Force Airman), and Saber Ceremony. Award recipients will be honored as they walk down the Saber Arch with their Living Legends Portrait.
The Award recipients will get to take home a complimentary portrait painting (by Award winning artist Yvonne Wan); a certificate of recommendation (signed by Governor Hobbs) and professional photo (by photographer Sam Legamaro) of them walking under the United States Air Force Saber Arc. The event will be filmed by Yvonne Wan who has a background as a Certified Social cultural anthropologist and broadcast documentary film ethnographer; so everyone can remember their special day. The Saber Arc is a prestigious ceremony honoring our fire fighters for the contribution to society. This is a special event honoring Airmen and Guardians to the world. Fire fighters are welcome to invite their loved ones /family to this event.
“We want to thank the U.S. Air Force honor guard for their continued support in delivering world class ceremonial honors, inspire the nation and represent Airmen and Guardians to the world. They are fulfilling their vision in being the preeminent ceremonial unit , honoring our heritage and embodying personal and professional excellence. Thank you Luke Air Force honor guard for their valued attendance at our Focus comic events honoring Airmen and Guardians to the world. We salute you.” (Yvonne Wan, Certified social cultural anthropologist and artist).
Thank you to Yvonne Wan for organizing the event and for creating the portrait gifts for the fire fighters / first responders airmen. Thank you to Sam Legamaro* for gifting his photography talents for this event, and Yvonne for providing film coverage so everyone can remember their special day.
In addition to exhibiting 31 portraits of fire fighters/first responders/ airmen by Yvonne Wan, Focus comics will also exhibit art work honoring the fire service and airmen by autistic artist interns, Carson Shuler and Audrey Lam. Carson and Audrey will produce 5 comic panels honoring fire fighters, EMS and airmen.
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Here is a magazine feature article about last years Living Legacy Art Exhibit and Awards Ceremony to manage your expectations regarding our 2025 event.
Here is our latest highlights film from our recent HERO awards ceremony, featuring the US Air Force honor guard Saber Ceremony. Thank you Yvonne Wan for creating the film so that the children and award recipients can remember their special day:
Thank you Sound of Freedom Magazine and its representatives for honoring our heroes through their professional journalism.
Please find below, our first 10 Living Legends Award recipients for 2025. We will announce the remaining 20 in due course. We are still accepting participants.
