In addition to serving in the military under George W. Bush, Figueroa also served under the former President Bush. He was activated in 1991 for a tour of duty in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1991, working as an imagery analyst.
       "I was young," Figueroa said of his first war experience, "and my priorities weren't the same. It was just me at the time. I was single, living at home and didn't mind going to war."
       Though the piece is more than 10 years old, Gagnon is using the symbolism of "We Pledge Our Sacred Honor" to benefit those serving in the armed forces during our nation's current troubled times.
       "We will be selling the piece in different forms with a portion going to a charity that will help families of soldiers," Gagnon said.
       As a soldier, Figueroa knew something was going to happen following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. When his unit was activated in March 2003, Figueroa's family was forced into monumental changes.
       Figueroa has been married to his wife, Evelyn, for 13 years. They married shortly after his return from Desert Storm. The couple has a daughter, Marisol.
       "Their adjustment was definitely tough," Figueroa said. "Two days before I got activated I was in a car accident and my car was totaled. Now Evelyn had to look for a car and take over paying the bills. It was very stressful. Everything was shifted around. It was tougher for her than it was for me."
       Figueroa touched down at the Kuwait International Airport in April 2003. His unit spent between two or three weeks waiting for permission to cross the border into Iraq. Much of their wait time was spent checking weapons and vehicles along with fighting sandstorms and intense heat.

       Parkland's Miguel Figueroa and Coral Springs' Marc Gagnon have never met, yet they share a common bond with different threads.
       Patriotism.
       Sergeant First Class Figueroa, Platoon Sergeant for 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 203rd Military Intelligence Battalion, a reserve unit, recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.
       Gagnon is a photographic artist who collaborated with April Ansalona on "We Pledge Our Sacred Honour," a collage that hangs in the George Bush Presidential Library, commemorating the first Bush's time in office.
       "The words come from Thomas Jefferson," Gagnon said of the artwork, which includes images from Marine Cpl. John Houldin, currently stationed in the Persian Gulf. "The piece shows conflict in the Middle East, particularly Iraq. What was so inspiring is that he (Bush) united many nations together and drove the Iraqi dictator out of Kuwait. It is at the White House as well."