Salute to Veterans

In 2009, Belmont Village commissioned a young photographer named Thomas Sanders to travel around the country and photograph the veterans who reside in our communities. We wanted to honor them. After each photo session, we created a unique gallery in each community of the residents who live there. The images were displayed alongside their stories and comments about their service. Those galleries hang there still.

Thomas Sanders’ work is featured today, Veterans Day 2011 on the CNN Photography Blog.

We feel very fortunate to have met Thomas when we did - he himself was on a mission to photograph as many WWII veterans as he possibly could - to preserve their stories and images before they are lost. As a result of our collaboration, Thomas’ collection quickly grew from 120 or so to more than 500 images within a year’s time. He caught the eye of publisher Welcome Books, and in 2010 The Last Good War: The Faces and Voices of World War II was published. Of the 124 veterans featured in the book, 72 were Belmont Village residents. Many have since passed on, which is the most difficult part of the journey, but it only underscores the importance of capturing and sharing their stories, and of showing our gratitude and respect to all of those who have served and continue to serve to protect our freedoms.

Belmont Village and Thomas Sanders continue to collaborate. Belmont Village Westwood - too new to participate during the first year of the project - just opened their American Heroes exhibit Wednesday, November 9, 2011. The images and stories of 37 veterans from World War II and beyond span two floors in their community today.

The Belmont Village galleries are open for viewing, but reservations are required. Please contact one of our communities in Los Angeles, San Diego, Northern California, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Louisville, or Houston if you would like to visit an American Heroes gallery.