Photography Exhibit Showcases Senior Veterans from Communities across Texas, Honoring Stories of Service
Belmont Village Senior Living in partnership with Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), announces the arrival of a new exhibition, American Heroes: Portraits of Service in Texas, a specially curated exhibition made exclusively for Dallas Love Field. The photographs are part of a larger collection of senior veteran portraits commissioned by Belmont Village Senior Living, a national leader in senior living with deep roots in Texas. Now on display near baggage claim at DAL, the exhibit showcases portraits of 39 distinguished senior veterans from Belmont Village’s four Texas communities who valiantly served their country during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and peacetime, captured through the lens of renowned photographer Thomas Sanders.
“The exhibit at Dallas Love Field gives the millions of people that pass through each year the chance to pause and reflect on the extraordinary courage and sacrifices of our veterans,” said Patricia Will, Founder and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living. “We are proud to bring American Heroes: Portraits of Service to Dallas, and to continue sharing the powerful stories of these veterans with the broader community.”
Travelers now can explore the inspiring stories of veterans like Dino Barela, a resident of Belmont Village Turtle Creek in Dallas, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War as a cryptologist and language instructor, later working for the National Security Agency. Additionally, Belmont Village Lakeway resident Sheila Allen, who was a longtime flight attendant for Braniff Airlines out of DAL, will see her husband Dick Allen’s military attributes also showcased in the gallery for his service. The exhibit also features World War II veteran Theodore “Spider” Mohle, a resident at Belmont Village Hunters Creek in Houston, who served from 1952-1954 and earned two Purple Heart Medals of Honor.
“Our art program has become a staple within our terminal walls and throughout the community, so we are honored to host this exhibit in partnership with Belmont Village. It shines a spotlight on the brave servicemen and women of Texas, and allows us to celebrate these heroes with every traveler passing through our airport,” said Patrick Carreno, Director of Aviation for Dallas Love Field.
Belmont Village Senior Living with Thomas Sanders launched the American Heroes: Portraits of Service photography project in 2008 to capture and preserve the personal accounts of resident veterans. The portraits led to Sanders’ first published book, “The Last Good War: The Faces and Voices of World War II.” Sanders has since photographed more than a thousand Belmont Village resident veterans, and the project has been displayed in over 30 permanent exhibits in Belmont Village communities across the country.
The installation of the exhibit at DAL marks the third public display of American Heroes: Portraits of Service, following its acclaimed exhibitions at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway International Airports that continue to draw thousands of travelers and community members who pause to honor the veterans’ remarkable stories.
The American Heroes: Portraits of Service in Texas exhibit will be on display at DAL until December 31, 2025.