BRENHAM RESIDENT DONATES PORTAIT HONORING MEMORY & HEROES OF 9/11 TO CITY OF BRENHAM

  

Brenham resident Roy Dean has donated a piece of art to the City of Brenham that is inspired by the events of September 11, 2001. 

According to a release from the City of Brenham, Dean’s brother originally commissioned the painting around 2002, after experiencing a vivid dream and sketching his vision upon waking.  Compelled by the dream, he commissioned “Out of the Ashes” by Kenneth R. Turner to bring the image to life.

For years, the painting was displayed in their parents' home in Vidor.  Two additional drawings were created, with one residing in the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station.  The other was presented to the fire chief of New York City. 

Dean is a first responder himself and comes from a family with a tradition of service, as his father served in the Korean War, so he felt a calling to ensure this art reached a wider audience. 

Dean says he hopes that young people who see the painting “will be moved to ask questions, learn about the significance of 9/11, and appreciate the countless individuals who played a role in rescue, recovery, and healing.”  He says this donation is not just about remembering those who lost their lives, but also recognizing all of those who tended to the injured, cleared debris and offered comfort amid the devastation. 

Mayor Atwood Kenjura says Dean’s kindness in donating the painting “helps us continue a legacy of remembrance, ensuring that the heroism of that day is never forgotten.”  He says, “His donation serves as both a tribute and an invitation—to honor history, respect sacrifice, and inspire future generations to remember the heroes of 9/11.”