Las Vegas photographer profiles 250 veterans for America's 250th birthday

Mikel Conrad's project '250 Faces of Service & Sacrifice' aims to preserve the stories of veterans before they are lost.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A Las Vegas-based photographer named Mikel Conrad is working to celebrate America's 250th birthday by profiling 250 veterans and active-duty service members through his project '250 Faces of Service & Sacrifice'. Conrad is capturing the stories of veterans, including those who served in the Vietnam War, Korean War, Iraq, and Afghanistan, in order to preserve their experiences for future generations.

Why it matters

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, it's important to honor the sacrifices and stories of the men and women who have served in the military to protect the country. Conrad's project aims to ensure these veterans' legacies are not forgotten, especially as the population of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans continues to decline.

The details

Conrad's project involves creating a portfolio of 250 veteran profiles in time for the country's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. The veterans featured include Joe Spizzirro, a Vietnam War veteran who served two tours, and Tracy Strong, an Army veteran who served from 1978 to 2013 with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. The project also includes Korean War veterans Ron Camillo and Gene Acker.

  • The United States will celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.
  • Conrad is working to complete his '250 Faces of Service & Sacrifice' project by the 250th anniversary.

The players

Mikel Conrad

A Las Vegas-based photographer who is working on the '250 Faces of Service & Sacrifice' project to profile 250 veterans and active-duty service members in time for America's 250th birthday.

Joe Spizzirro

A Vietnam War veteran who served two tours and is featured in Conrad's project.

Tracy Strong

An Army veteran who served from 1978 to 2013 with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and is featured in Conrad's project.

Ron Camillo

A Korean War veteran who served with the 1st Marine Division and the 5th Marines on active duty from 1950-51, and is featured in Conrad's project.

Gene Acker

A Korean War veteran who is featured in Conrad's project.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Mikel Conrad, Photographer (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“My first tour in Iraq was 2004-05 and then my second tour in Iraq was 2007-08. Then I did 18 months in Afghanistan.”

— Tracy Strong, Army Veteran (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“I wore my uniform and I was spit up on but I didn't hold that against anybody. I did what I wanted to do. I did the honorable thing.”

— Joe Spizzirro, Vietnam War Veteran (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“I can remember like yesterday, Korea. The problem is I saw things over there I can't talk about.”

— Ron Camillo, Korean War Veteran (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“We're all tied together. We're all brothers. We're not worth a damn without one another.”

— Gene Acker, Korean War Veteran (atlantanewsfirst.com)

What’s next

Conrad plans to continue profiling veterans and active-duty service members throughout 2026 to complete his goal of 250 profiles in time for America's 250th birthday celebration on July 4.

The takeaway

As the United States approaches a major milestone in its history, projects like Conrad's '250 Faces of Service & Sacrifice' are crucial to preserving the stories and sacrifices of the men and women who have served to protect the country. These veterans' legacies will live on through this initiative, ensuring their contributions are not forgotten.