The Patriot’s Portraits – Honoring America’s Heroes While They Are with Us
Jamie Harris (behind the camera) with Richard E. Gentry, Vietnam Veteran. Courtesy Jamie Harris Photography – (336) 504-2941
When I was a child, World War II veterans were everywhere. They were in parades, at little league games and weddings, and around our holiday dinner tables. Everyone seemed to have a hero in their family. Then we grew up, and life happened. Sadly, on our watch, we will see the last of these heroes pass on into eternity. That is why Jamie Harris is one of the most important nontraditional historians alive today. Jamie is a professional photographer who documents our veterans through his nonprofit, The Patriot’s Portrait.
Jamie fell in love with film when he was a teen and has been a full-time and part-time photographer focusing on traditional portraits for over two decades. Not one to sit idle, Jamie has also been a law enforcement officer for 24 years. In 2011, Jamie came across a story of a photographer capturing veterans through film. He thought it would be a special way to give back to the Person County community. In 2013, he photographed his first subject, Mr. Ellis Pleasants, a Vietnam War veteran who was a double amputee. The community loved the story and pictures, and Jamie found it personally rewarding. He continued capturing veteran portraits on the side, and interest grew.
In 2017, Jamie and Ronnie Jeffreys, a past president and current member of Person Veterans Council, along with Teresa Burch, started the nonprofit The Patriot’s Portrait. Alan Whitlow and John Bell soon joined the three at the 501(c)3, where 100 percent of the funds raised go to the cause. The goal is to present each veteran with a professionally framed and matted portrait of their experience. When Jamie approaches veterans at events about possibly doing a photo session, he often receives pushback from the humble warriors. Gently, he tells them that the picture is not for them. Once complete, Jamie then places copies of the photographs on the Facebook and Instagram pages under The Patriot’s Portrait.
Since its inception, The Patriot’s Portrait has been able to document veterans from every conflict from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. When asked about memorable stories, Jamie mentioned Mr. Pleasants’ photo session and 97-year-old World War II veteran Tom Clayton, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday in Roxboro. Jamie also mentioned a road trip on which he was allowed to accompany and document a group of veterans traveling to Washington, DC, to visit the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials.
“It was very emotional and special to participate,” Harris said.
In the US, we make a big deal of our veterans on July 4, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Patriots’ Day, (in six states) as well as during parades and special events. However, it is important to honor them all year round. Some of them have sacrificed lives, others have sacrificed limbs, and still others carry a mental wound we can never see. Even if veterans made it through their service relatively scar-free, the fact that they gave their time and sweat deserves our utmost respect.
Until the Almighty rights all wrongs, there will always be evil in the world, so there will be a need for soldiers like Mr. Pleasants and Mr. Clayton. Thankfully, men like Jamie Harris will keep our veterans’ memories alive. However, we can still hope and pray for a future where our veterans will come home having served during a time of peace.
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(336) 504-2941
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