SAN RAMON, CA — Veterans Day is a holiday that encourages us to remember veterans. Now, the Belmont Village Senior Living assisted living community in San Ramon has a permanent gallery of portraits of its veterans that will help everyone remember them every day, forever.
On Wednesday, Belmont Village unveiled two new permanent galleries entitled "American Heroes: Portraits of Service" gallery, a series of photographs of12 veterans, and "Lasting Love," photos of 16 couples residing at the facility. The photographs were taken by award-winning photographer Thomas Sanders, known for his photography book "The Last Good War: The Faces and Voices of WWII", who has traveled the country photographing more than 1,000 veterans since 2008. He has also been photographing Belmont Village veterans since 2008.
In September, Sanders stopped by San Ramon to photograph residents like David York, the first resident to move into Belmont Village. York served in the Navy for more than 20 years, and met his wife while they were both serving in the military. Sanders also photographed residents like Joe Jimenez, who served as a Navy officer and pilot after participating in ROTC in college, or Steve Artus, who trained to operate submarines and nuclear power before serving in the Mediterranean and North Pacific.
"The 'American Heroes: Portraits of Service' photography project is a powerful reminder of how much history each resident carries with them. Hearing the veterans reflect on their service reinforced how deeply those experiences shaped their lives, from their relationships and careers to the way they approached leadership and teamwork," said Jennifer Coons, executive director of Belmont Living San Ramon.
The photos, which measure 17 x 21 inches, will be displayed in Belmont Village's new American Heroes gallery. Coons said she hopes that new veteran and couple photos will be added in the coming years.
Sanders also photographed 16 resident couples, and the photographs are now displayed in the new Lasting Love gallery. "The couples' photo shoots [offer] an opportunity for couples to celebrate their relationships, preserve their love stories through professional portraits and share the experiences they've built together over the years," she said.
"This project is a meaningful way to recognize the extraordinary lives of Belmont Village residents and preserve the stories behind them," she added. "Each portrait represents more than a photograph; it captures a piece of a resident's history, accomplishments and legacy for their families, fellow residents and future generations."
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