Belmont Village honors veterans
Preserving history, however possible, is always a worthy endeavor, especially when it comes to generations of those who have served this country.
Belmont Village Senior Living has teamed with renowned photographer Thomas Sanders for The American Heroes: Portraits of Service Project, an extensive collection of photographs of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. Sanders’ book, The Last
Good War: Faces and Voices of World War II, is a selection of The History Book Club and Military Book Club as well as Forward Magazine’s Book of the Year Award winner. The American Heroes: Portraits of Service Project was a nationwide tour of 24 Belmont Village communities that began in May 2015 in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. It also culminates this year in Texas, Belmont Village’s home state, in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Sanders visited the Belmont locations in six states over a 10-month span and photographed more than 400 veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
The importance of this presentation and its rich part of history is an honor for Sanders, whose grandfather served in World War II.
“It creates a greater appreciation for all veterans,” Sanders said. “I was sent to do it all over the country. The idea was to hear all of the different stories. It’s really important to honor these veterans and say thank you. It changed my life. It inspires family members, and for some, it’s the first time they’ve heard their stories.”
Houston’s Belmont Village residents are part of Sanders’ exhibit at Belmont Village locations. The portraits are part of a permanent exhibit in each community.
Belmont residents are touched not only by the photographs, but also to be included in this special commemoration of their service that shares their stories of service.
Hunters Creek resident and veteran Sam L. Evans, U.S. Army, 1947-1949, Sergeant T/4, recalled his experience with the Arkansas National Guard while in high school and later in the Army.
“I was assigned to AGF Board 4 at Fort Bliss as an anti-aircraft crewman for testing and developing new systems. After my active duty service, I returned to Arkansas for college and re-enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard until 1952.
“Anything enhancing public knowledge of and respect for our WW II veterans is extremely worthwhile. I would supplement that, too, by including our Korean, Vietnam and Iraq Midwestern Gulf War veterans as well. I’m glad the project includes all veterans in the community.”
West University Belmont residents, Jim Bunting and Ed Owen, also were touched by Sanders’ efforts.
Bunting, U.S. Navy, 1944-1946, Midshipman 1st Class, said the American Heroes project brings back memories about when he did the majority of his service in Okinawa, Japan.
“I think it was a great thing to do for us veterans,” Bunting said. “I still have my Navy uniform. When I see my picture up on the wall, I feel pride. Our generation when through a lot. We saw a lot, many of us at a very young age. We had to grow up really fast. Life was different.”
For Owen, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers captain, 1943-1946, it’s an honor to be part of the project.
“I saw a lot of devastation. I served a year and a half in New Guinea and the Philippines building airfields, roads and general construction. The devastation in the area was a difficult thing to see and take in. I am happy that Belmont has a way of honoring those who live here and who have served,” he said.
Belmont Village founder and CEO, Patricia G. Will, said the reaction to the project has surpassed anything she could’ve imagined.
“It has been a beautiful thing to see,” Will said. “In 2015, we realized that with the 70th anniversary of the end of WW II, we were losing the opportunity to help share these stories and honor these men and women. The new tour also gave us an opportunity to shed more light on those who served afterward, in Korea and Vietnam. We have many more of those veterans in our communities now and, for many of them, recognition is long overdue.”
For information about the American Heroes Project, go to www.belmontvillage.com/heroes.