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- calendar_today November 9, 2026
American Heroes: Portraits of Service Debuts at Chicago Airports
Permanent exhibits honoring the service and sacrifice of American veterans have been unveiled at Chicago's two major airports, O'Hare and Midway International. Titled American Heroes: Portraits of Service, these displays feature dozens of striking photographs and stories of local veterans, capturing the breadth and depth of military service from the region.
A Lasting Tribute at O'Hare and Midway
At O'Hare Airport, 55 portraits of Chicago-area service members now line the walls of Terminal 2, concourse F. Meanwhile, travelers at Midway can view a similar heartfelt display along the pedestrian bridge leading to the CTA tunnel. These exhibits aim to provide a constant reminder of the heroism and dedication of local veterans to all who pass through these busy transit points.
Two Decades of Collaboration and Storytelling
The new veterans portrait exhibits are the result of a 20-year collaboration between photographer Thomas Sanders and Belmont Village Senior Living. During this period, Sanders photographed and recorded the service stories of more than 1,200 veterans who have lived in Belmont Village communities across the Chicagoland area, preserving a unique historical legacy for future generations.
Brian Adelman, Executive Director of Belmont Village Senior Living in Buffalo Grove, highlighted the emotional significance of the project for residents: "This experience is incredibly meaningful for our residents. They have incredible stories to tell and sometimes they don’t have folks to necessarily tell their stories to."
Connecting Exhibits and Airport Legacies
The exhibits are additionally meaningful given the history behind the airports' names. As Georgiaree Godfrey, Director of Public Information at the Chicago Department of Aviation, noted, O'Hare Airport is named for Butch O’Hare, a naval aviator and World War II Medal of Honor recipient, while Midway is named for the pivotal Battle of Midway, a key naval engagement in the Pacific just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Portraits That Tell Powerful Stories
Among those featured is Mildred Evans, recognized for her service as a firearms instructor during World War II. Her portrait shows her holding a shell casing, symbolizing her vital role during the conflict. Another veteran, Clarence "C-Train" Edwards Jr., served 13 years in the U.S. Army after being drafted in 1969. He recalls his most memorable experience as a counselor for soldiers in Italy, assisting fellow service members dealing with personal challenges such as alcohol and drug abuse.
Edwards expressed gratitude for the public recognition. "It means a lot. It means that everybody gets to know me and I appreciate everybody showing their appreciation. I was glad to do it. I enjoyed it," he said in an interview with WGN-TV. His hope is that the exhibits inspire viewers to reflect and thank those who have served.
Honoring Service, Inspiring Reflection
With the debut of the American Heroes: Portraits of Service exhibits at O'Hare and Midway, the stories of local veterans will continue to inspire, educate, and encourage appreciation among the countless travelers who encounter them each day. The galleries serve as a testament to the strength, resilience, and enduring legacy of the region's military community.
Source: wgntv.com.
