Photo gallery: Stacy Pearsall’s veteran portraits

Former combat photographer Stacy Pearsall's Veterans Portrait Project began in the VA hospital waiting room, when a fellow veteran began sharing his WWII stories with her, inspiring Pearsall to make his portrait. Recovering from a war injury herself, she says, "I set a goal of photographing veterans in every state. It was supposed to be something to keep me motivated and achieving, not necessarily occupationally but as emotionally cathartic for me." She's now made portraits of veterans in 27 states.Related: How Pearsall's project is aiding her own recovery.