Travelers passing through O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois now have a chance to learn about American history from those who made it.
A new photography exhibition, American Heroes: Portraits of Service displayed in Terminal 3, Concourse I near gates 20-24, showcases 55 veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Myron Petrakis, a machinist who served on the USS Murrelet during World War II, is among those veterans whose service is highlighted in the exhibit.
“I am dedicated to the memory of my boyhood friends and shipmates who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in WWII,” a quote from Petrakis in the exhibit reads. “I lost six friends and 31 shipmates that I trained with when our sister ship the USS Minivet hit a mine on December 28, 1946, during sweeping operations in the Korean Straits. The war did not end for the minesweepers on VJ day.”
The exhibit is the result of a partnership between the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), Belmont Village Senior Living and co-sponsor Harrison Street. It is the second collaboration and renowned photographer Thomas Sanders captured the images. The first installation housed at Chicago’s Midway International Airport was unveiled in November 2022.
“Chicago’s airports are always looking for more ways to highlight the contributions of service members through efforts like these exhibits, regular Honor Flight Chicago trips to visit the national war memorials in Washington, D.C., and increased contracting opportunities for veteran-owned firms alongside other minority- and women-owned businesses,” Chicago Airport Commissioner Jamie Rhee said.
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Belmont Village Senior Living began the American Heroes: Portraits of Services photography project in 2008 with the objective of capturing and conserving the stirring personal accounts of veterans. Sanders has since captured thousands of images of Belmont residents featured in over 30 permanent exhibits in Belmont communities across the country.
Army veteran George Mueller, who was liberated from a camp in Germany during World War II and then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, is also showcased in the exhibit.
“During WWII as a teenager, I was in a concentration camp in Germany,” Mueller said in his featured quote. “I was liberated by the Russian army who then sent me to the Americans. Ten years later, I was proud and thankful to serve in the American Army.”
To learn more, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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