Unsung Heroes Honored In Art Gallery Installation

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – They left behind a legacy rarely a seen until now. But thanks to one local woman, the African American men and woman who fought for our country are finally being recognized.

"When you walk in and you see and feel the spirits … they are telling you a story just by looking at their picture," said Lisa Daniels, executive director of the "Unsung Heroes" project.

Daniels has been on a one woman mission to document the African American experience in the U.S. Military.

It's a mission that started close to home with her grandmother.

"I discovered that she had been a welder in the Brooklyn naval yards. That sparked my interest about blacks in the military," Daniels said. "I couldn't find anything so I wanted to do something first hand."

And the Unsung Heroes project was born. Part of the project is paintings and photographs of those who have served in the military, but another part of the projects is actually recording their stories and what stories they have to tell. They are tales from recent wars to ones long, long ago.

"I actually have World War II, a World War I vet, the Spanish American War, who wanted to share their story," Daniels said.

Daniels is still gathering stories from local African American veterans and has bigger plans for the project.

"Keep collecting their stories and take them around California and then around the country," Daniels said.

Unsung Heroes will be at the Brickhouse Art Gallery through the end of the July.