Faces of Service immortalizes Veterans and their stories

With assistance from the Dallas Regional Office of Public Affairs, the North Texas VA Office of Communications and Community Engagement held its annual Faces of Service event in Dallas and Ft. Worth.

A diverse group of 160 Veterans who served in every place and significant conflict dating back to World War II stopped by to have their photograph professionally taken, share their experiences and join in on the fellowship.

Faces of Service aims to show the faces and tell the stories of true sacrifice and service. It says that our Veterans’ stories and experiences are unique, notable, and worthy of celebration and documentation.

“I get my health care at VA,” said Ray Caruth, Air Force Veteran and North Texas VA patient. “But this is different. You don’t usually see photography studios set up at the hospital.”

“Honoring our service”

“You all are honoring and immortalizing our service,” said Carnell Mathis, a retired Marine and North Texas VA employee, who shared stories of his deployments to Afghanistan. “This event allows us to stop by and just talk. It’s kind of therapeutic, in a way. You all should have Faces of Service more often.”

Carnell Mathis, Marine Veteran

“I think it adds to the overall Veteran experience,” said Ricky Ball, an alumni outreach specialist with the Wounded Warrior Project. “It will not only inspire Veterans to tell their story but it might inspire other Veterans to do the same.”

Photos and stories will be on display

In the coming months, some captured images and stories will be printed and distributed through North Texas VA’s Pulse Magazine, circulated on social media, and printed for display at the Dallas VA Medical Center and the Ft. Worth VA Clinic.

You can view or download your portrait by visiting our Faces of Service 2022 album on Flickr.