PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Republican leaders joined the family of Kayla Mueller Thursday to unveil a painting honoring the humanitarian worker from Prescott who was kidnapped in Syria, held captive and killed.
Carl Mueller said the painting is a tribute to his daughter and the U.S. servicemembers who killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Islamic State leader who held Kayla Mueller captive. He was killed in a raid last year.
The painting by artist Stuart Brown is called “into the breach.” It depicts special forces operatives breaching the wall of a compound during a raid. It will eventually be displayed at the Arizona State Capitol.
The Muellers have been outspoken supporters of President Donald Trump, whom they praise for his attempts to rescue Mueller and for ordering the raid that killed al-Baghdadi. They were guests of Vice President Mike Pence at a debate Wednesday night and flew to Phoenix on the vice presidential aircraft, Air Force 2.
Gov. Doug Ducey and Trump’s national security adviser, Robert O’Brien spoke at a ceremony at an Arizona Air National Guard hangar at the airport in Phoenix. U.S. Sen. Martha McSally sang the national anthem.
“With compassion as her shield and love as her only weapon, Kayla Mueller was a warrior in every sense,” Ducey said. “Comforting the anguished and serving as a light in the darkness.”
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