8-year-old Alexander, the great grandson of one of the WWII Veterans, asks photographer Debra Snell if he could have one of his “Great Grandpap’s” photos at her ‘Pride and Pain’ Veterans Day exhibit – Photo courtesy of Debra Snell
The Veterans Day “Pride & Pain” photo exhibit and fundraiser took place on Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Hart Park House Senior Center located near the Memorial Wall in Sierra Madre’s Memorial Park.
Portraits of the members of VFW Post 3208 were on display following the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Memorial Wall.
At the exhibit, VFW Post 3208 member Brian A. Neumann, who partners with the Pasadena City College Veterans Club to offer support for veterans in the community, likened the photos to the personal struggles and transformations that veterans experience when adjusting to civilian life.
“I see these kids coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, and they’re trying to assimilate into society – I can’t imagine what’s going on in their heads,” said Neumann.
Nearly 40 people attended the photo exhibit to meet local veterans and to listen to their stories – some of which still haunt them to this day.
According to Snell, the event was a fundraiser to support the ongoing efforts of VFW Post 3208 to assist veterans, while supporting the community.
Snell’s personal highlight of the event was when the veterans in attendance found out that the framed images on the walls were for them to keep. She said this was made possible by the donors of the event.
VFW Post 3208 donates to the Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, Seniors in Sierra Madre, repairs at Dapper Field, sponsor little league teams, an Adult Co-ed team, provides Flags for the City to use to line the streets, donate flags to police and Fire depts.
The Post has donated a scholarship to a worthy cadet from Pasadena high school, while supporting and providing a scholarship to the Pasadena City College Veterans Club. They have helped assisted worthy comrades and provided funds to assist our men and women in Afghanistan and Iran.
The event also featured a silent auction of other images from Debra Snell Photography, a former Los Angeles TV News Woman.
Proceeds from this event will be donated to VFW Post 3208.
Donors to the event include Dark Room Lab, Woodland Hills Camera, JASEC of South Pasadena, Entertainment Television Services, RSTV Inc. Hollywood Hair Guy Dean Banowetz, Kiwaii True Spring Water and many other caring individuals.
Preview Debra Snell’s ‘Pride and Pain’ veteran photos at either her social media page at www.facebook.com/DebraSnell.Photography or her blog at
www.debrasnellphotography.blogspot.com.