Just over 160 small portraits line the walls of Space 160 on Town Center Drive in Valencia as a memorial to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from California who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003.

The portraits will be on display through July 11.

Among the faces on the walls are eight of the Santa Clarita Valley’s fallen heroes – Brian Cody Prosser, Richard P. “Ricky” Slocum, Cole W. Larson, Jose R. Flores-Mejia, Dennis L. Sellen Jr., Ian T.D. Gelig, Jake W. Suter and Rudy A. Acosta.

SPC Acosta’s father, City Councilman Dante Acosta, had a hand in bringing the exhibition to Santa Clarita. Dante Acosta and wife Carolyn participated in an opening reception Saturday along with artist John Zarcone, who painted the 5×5-inch portrait of their son. Dennis Sellen’s mother attended the reception, as well.

The project is the brainchild of Sherry Moore, an Army veteran. She said the project incorporates the work of a wide range of artists, some of whom are amateurs and others whose work sells for thousands of dollars.

Portraits of the Fallen Memorial is a project of the Pasadena Arts Council. It is the “first war memorial that depicts the faces of these fine Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.”

The project goal is to include all 754 service members (to date) from California who have given their lives in the war on terror. The ultimate goal is “to have all 6,500-plus fallen U.S. heroes included in this memorial.”

The exhibit on Town Center Drive is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. For more information or to make a donation, [CLICK HERE].