By Mark Carlson, Reporter | KCRG ABC 9
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - It is perhaps the most famous parade in America, the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. But before one of the floats was ready for the New Years Day parade, it needed one last thing, a floragraph portrait of 25-year-old Dubuque native Brain Gleason.
“It definitely embodies who he was, he wasn’t a big teeth smiler,” said Shannon Gleason, after looking at the finished portrait of her late brother, “That’s very Brian.”
In 2008 Brian Gleason died from injuries he suffered in a car crash. Wearing matching shirts to show support on Saturday, his family gathered inside of the Iowa Donor Network building to put the finishing touches on their memorable floragraph.
“I love to talk about Brain and continue to be proud of him. So when events like this come, and I see beautiful works and what’s been done on his portrait, it reinforces my belief that he is still with us,” said Rick Gleason, Brian’s father.
Gleason’s image will join dozens of others on the Donate Life float in this years parade. His family plans to travel to California to watch their sons memory pass through the streets of Pasadena. Something they hope it will send a strong message about the importance of organ donation.
“If he could make one more person think that (organ) donation is the best that can happen under those horrible situations, then that will be great,” said Rick Gleason.
Brian donated his heart, kidneys, liver, bones, skin, eyes, and various tissue after his death. The donations that have helped dozens of other people.
“We know he’s all over the place, and that makes us very happy,” Rick Gleason said.
“It definitely embodies who he was, he wasn’t a big teeth smiler,” said Shannon Gleason, after looking at the finished portrait of her late brother, “That’s very Brian.”
In 2008 Brian Gleason died from injuries he suffered in a car crash. Wearing matching shirts to show support on Saturday, his family gathered inside of the Iowa Donor Network building to put the finishing touches on their memorable floragraph.
“I love to talk about Brain and continue to be proud of him. So when events like this come, and I see beautiful works and what’s been done on his portrait, it reinforces my belief that he is still with us,” said Rick Gleason, Brian’s father.
Gleason’s image will join dozens of others on the Donate Life float in this years parade. His family plans to travel to California to watch their sons memory pass through the streets of Pasadena. Something they hope it will send a strong message about the importance of organ donation.
“If he could make one more person think that (organ) donation is the best that can happen under those horrible situations, then that will be great,” said Rick Gleason.
Brian donated his heart, kidneys, liver, bones, skin, eyes, and various tissue after his death. The donations that have helped dozens of other people.
“We know he’s all over the place, and that makes us very happy,” Rick Gleason said.
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