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Veterans Portrait Project – part 3/3

A behind the scenes look at Stacy Pearsall’s Veterans Portrait Project as she travels across the United States taking portraits of American military veterans.

The VPP has afforded me the opportunity to photograph twin brothers who served in Vietnam together, a father and son who served in Afghanistan together and a husband and wife who served in Iraq together. I’ve photographed mothers of fallen soldiers and widows of American heroes. I’ve photographed military working dogs and service dogs too. As the VPP evolves, so does the diversity of subjects, and for that I’m blessed.

Those who see the breadth and variety of the faces in the portraits perhaps realize the veteran community is as diverse as the nation it represents. With that, the VPP has the power to change preconceived notions regarding veterans, who they are and the challenges they face. What’s more, the VPP acts as an archive of American military history that can be added to indefinitely. I’ve never charged a veteran for a portrait and I never will. It’s the minimum they deserve in my opinion. I don’t have much to give, but I can do this, and I intend to until the end of my life.

I prepare to pack it up for the day after a long VPP shoot at the USAA Financial Center in Virginia Beach Virginia.
I prepare to pack it up for the day after a long VPP shoot at the USAA Financial Center in Virginia Beach Virginia.

I look back on my time in combat and thank the stars that I’m still living. I owe my life to the soldiers who had my back and to those veterans who helped me through the tough years of recuperation that followed.

Behind_Scenes_VPP-019
Veterans Portrait Project

 
I strive to live my life in honor the memories of my brothers who died and the VPP is just one way I do that.
To all military veterans out there, thank you for your service. To all those who support the VPP, I owe you a debt of gratitude!

To view portraits from the Veterans Portrait Project, please visit:
http://stacypearsall.photoshelter.com/gallery/G0000OkaqQCAehnQ/

Here is part two, just in case you missed it.

Veterans portraits and story by Stacy L. Pearsall, Behind the Scenes images by Des’ola Mecozzi

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