Houston – Back in June, Georgia-based photographer Tom Sanders visited two senior living communities in Houston to capture a very special group of veteran residents veterans. His work is part of American Heroes: Portraits of Service, a project he began in 2008 in partnership with Belmont Village Senior Living.
Belmont Village Senior Living Portraits in Service unveiling (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
Since then, Sanders has photographed nearly 1,000 veterans across the country, working to preserve their stories before they are lost to time.
Photographer Tom Sanders is the visionary behind ‘American Heroes: Portraits of Service’ (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
At Belmont Village West University, 12 residents were recently honored with portraits. These men are part of the community’s veterans group, where they gather each month to share stories and camaraderie. “It’s about capturing the legacy,” said Executive Director Brit Burk. “We get to hear amazing stories and pearls of wisdom from our residents every day.”
Belmont Village Senior Living Portraits in Service unveiling (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)Belmont Village Senior Living Portraits in Service unveiling (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
Sanders’ portraits are moving. He often incorporates images from a veteran’s service years, even relics like uniforms or patches. “The viewer sees the veteran both in the present and in the past,” Sanders explained.
For veterans like George Havran, who joined the Army Air Corps while still in high school, the project carries deep meaning. “I still don’t have a high school diploma, but I have three college degrees thanks to the GI Bill,” Havran said. “Most places wouldn’t do something like this, so it means a lot.”
American Heroes: Portraits of Service. Belmont Village Senior Living Facility (Tom Sanders)
Air Force veteran Kip Taylor, who served as a forward air controller in Vietnam, flew 365 combat missions over two years. Among his many awards are two Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and 18 Air Medals. he reflected on his days in Vietnam describing flying low, detecting targets in the jungle, and helping his team who wer higher in the air. “Just the fact that my picture is up there makes me proud.”
American Heroes: Portraits of Service. Belmont Village Senior Living Facility (Tom Sanders)
For Sanders, the mission goes beyond photography. “I just hope that when people see these portraits, they stop in their tracks,” and read the quote next to the photo.
BTS of Tom Sanders (Tom Sanders)
We want to thank Belmont Village West University veterans George Havran, Kip Taylor, and Richard Lis for not only stopping by Studio B to watch their story live but, for their years of service. Alongside their pictures at the facility are the pictures of the rest of the men in their class and those who have lived at the facility years before them as well.
2025 class
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Kip Taylor
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George Harvan
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Richard Lis
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Rueff Ardel
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W.T. Dismuke
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Doc Donovan
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Gary Frierson
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Robert Howard
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Jerry Jones
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Harris Keene
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Ruperto Martinez
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John Perdue
The American Heroes: Portraits of Service galleries are now on permanent display at Belmont Village communities, including here in Houston at the Hunters Creek and West University locations. It’s a project that ensures the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of a generation will never be forgotten.
Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.