LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A handful of veterans enjoyed the spotlight on Monday.
The Leatherneck Club transformed into a photography studio for people like Joe Spizziro to (at least try) enjoying getting their picture professionally taken.
“I’m not much for picture taking,” Spizziro said. “Obviously, I don’t smile too good because my teeth are so dang bad. I have to watch my language.”
Jokes aside, Spizziro and three other Las Vegas veterans were taken care of by Mikel Conrad.
The longtime Henderson photographer organized the shoot as part of his mission.
A project called 250 Faces of Service and Sacrifice.
As the name suggests, Conrad has set out to create portraits of 250 veterans ahead of the Fourth of July, what will be the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
“Just their willingness to serve and just do what they had to do and not beat their chest about it. They just went out and did what they had to do,” Conrad said.
The gentlemen photographed Monday, ranging from Korean War and Vietnam veterans to an Army vet with multiple tours in the Middle East, were very grateful to be a part of this project.
“I was in the Army from 1978-2013. My first tour in Iraq was 2004-05. My second tour in Iraq was 2007-08. Then I did 18 months in Afghanistan.”
“I think it’s wonderful. Especially for the Korea, World War Two and Vietnam era guys. We’ve got to get those stories down.”
Korean War veterans like Ron Camillo look back fondly on their service, what was now more than 70 years ago.
“I served with the 1st Marine division and the 5th Marines. Active duty 1951-51,” Camillo said.
“I can remember Korea like yesterday but I can’t remember what I had for breakfast or lunch. The problem is I saw things over there I can’t talk about.”
This project allows some of those tough stories to be told, to be immortalized long after these heroes have left this Earth.
Spizziro did two tours in Vietnam and he felt proud to be invited into a project highlighting his efforts, the opposite of what he felt during war time.
“I was actually told not to wear my uniform when I went home because I’d be spit up on. Well I wore my uniform and I was spit up on. I didn’t hold that against anybody. I did what I wanted to do. I did the honorable thing,” Spizziro said.
Gene Acker, Camillo’s fellow Korean War veteran, may have said it best.
He expressed a message of unity along with his gratitude, that all military are one regardless of what branch or era.
“I was honored. I was really honored to have you people come over and do what you do,” Acker said.
“We’re all brothers. We just wear different hats. We’re all tied together. We’re all brothers. We’re not worth a damn without one another.”
Conrad told FOX 5 this project has started to expand beyond the Las Vegas valley, interest coming from coast to coast to nominate veterans to be a part of this project.
If you’d like to learn more about 250 Faces of Service and Sacrifice or nominate a veteran, click here.
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