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A new photography exhibit titled "American Heroes: Portraits of Service in Texas" is now on display at Dallas Love Field Airport. The exhibit, created through a partnership between Belmont Village Senior Living and the airport, features portraits of 39 senior veterans from Belmont Village’s four Texas communities. The photographs, taken by Thomas Sanders, depict veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and peacetime.
Patricia Will, Founder and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living, said, "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. 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."
The exhibit includes stories such as that of Dino Barela, a Belmont Village Turtle Creek resident in Dallas, who served as a cryptologist and language instructor in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War before working for the National Security Agency. Sheila Allen, a resident of Belmont Village Lakeway and former Braniff Airlines flight attendant, is represented through her husband Dick Allen’s military service. Theodore “Spider” Mohle, a World War II veteran living at Belmont Village Hunters Creek in Houston, is also featured for his service from 1952-1954 and his receipt of two Purple Heart Medals of Honor.
Patrick Carreno, Director of Aviation for Dallas Love Field, commented on the partnership: "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."
The American Heroes: Portraits of Service project began in 2008 as a collaboration between Belmont Village Senior Living and Thomas Sanders to document the stories of resident veterans. The project resulted in Sanders’ book "The Last Good War: The Faces and Voices of World War II" and has since included over a thousand portraits displayed at more than 30 permanent exhibits across Belmont Village communities nationwide.
This marks the third public installation of the exhibit at an airport, following previous displays at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway International Airports.
