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'Combat from Behind the Camera' at Palace Oct. 2

Subhead
Student presentations Friday, public address Friday night At Palace
Lead Summary
By
Lori Sorenson

Nationally known combat photographer Stacy Pearsall will be in Luverne Friday, Oct. 2, to share her story about what combat is like from behind the camera.
Pearsall has captured over 500,000 images across 41 different countries, and her work has appeared in Time, USA Today, CNN, BBC and the New York Times.
In three combat tours, she has earned some of the highest medals for heroism in battle, including the Bronze Star Medal and Air Force Commendation with Valor for heroic actions under fire.
Pearsall is the only woman to ever win the Military Photographer of the Year twice.
Her local visit is sponsored by Remember Rally, a non-profit organization started by Diane Sherwood to raise money for soldiers and rescue workers affected by the chemicals of 9-11 and combat.
Sherwood, Luverne, said she saw a connection between her own work and that of Pearsall.
“I had read an article about her a few years ago and I asked her if there might be a project we could work on together for veterans,” Sherwood said. “She said, ‘yes.’”
Pearsall started the Veterans Portrait Project in 2008 while she rehabilitated from combat injuries she sustained in Iraq.
Spending hours in VA hospital waiting rooms surrounded by veterans from every generation and branch of service, Pearsall said she was compelled to thank them the only way she knew how — through photography.
She’s traveled to over 40 cities with the Veterans Portrait Project and has documented more than 3,000 veterans so far.
Some of her work is on display in the Palace window, the library and Luverne Area Chamber.
Beginning the second weekend in October, her work will be on display at the Carnegie Cultural Center through the end of October in conjunction with the veterans exhibit.
She’ll be in Luverne Thursday to photograph local veterans who have signed up for the project.
“It’s really amazing what she’s doing,” Sherwood said. “It’s just an honor to get her to come here.”
As part of her Veterans Portrait Project, Pearsall gives free digital prints to the veterans she photographs.
On Friday Pearsall will share her story about the hardships of combat and about what it’s like to be a woman and a photographer who documented some of the most dangerous battles in recent U.S. war history.
Pearsall will speak to students in area high schools — Luverne, Adrian, Hills-Beaver Creek and Ellsworth — Friday morning, Oct. 2.
“That’s about 1,300 to 1,400 kids in grades 6-12 who will have a chance to hear the message,” Sherwood said. “All the schools are excited to have her come.”
On Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Pearsall will make a public presentation in the historic Palace Theatre.
Sherwood said it’s a compelling message for everyone.
“Not only do her images tell the story of the soldiers she’s documented, but they also tell her own tale of friendships she made and tragically lost,” Sherwood said.
Tickets are $10 for the public but free to veterans and are available at the Luverne Area Chamber, 283-4061.
More information about Pearsall is available at stacypearsall.com and veteransportraitproject.com.
Information about Sherwood’s Remember Rally project is available at rememberrally.com.

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