HUNTERSVILLE, NC—“People can never have too many family photos,” says Aaron Libby, the Charlotte-based photographer known for his stunning portraits captured across four continents and in his studio, Aaron Libby Photography.
Libby’s passion for photography and his personal experiences as a U.S. Army veteran led to a recent collaboration with Carolina Caring, the nonprofit serious illness care provider serving 12 counties across Western North Carolina and the Mecklenburg region.
Last Fall, he was approached by Cindy Stamey, Carolina Caring’s Director of Veteran Relations, who sought to create a meaningful experience—one that provided lasting keepsakes for veterans and their families. They decided to offer a free photography session during the organization’s Veterans Coffee Connection gathering in Huntersville.
Veterans Coffee Connection is an open, informal event hosted by Carolina Caring throughout Catawba, Lincoln, Gaston, and Mecklenburg counties. The gatherings invite veterans of all eras and branches to come together for light refreshments and conversation while also learning about resources available through Carolina Caring and partner organizations. The environment is intentionally welcoming, creating space for camaraderie and shared experience.
For these photographs, veterans were encouraged to hold an item or wear a badge that carries meaning from their time in service. The memorabilia reflected their leadership, sacrifice, and stories worthy of honor. One U.S. Army veteran brought his helmet bag from his time as an army aviator. The bag bears badges collected throughout his unit assignments, representing different chapters of his military career.
Among those photographed was retired U.S. Marine Mervin Showell, who holds an impressive 20-year military career, including deployment during the Vietnam War. Showell attended Veterans Coffee Connection at the encouragement of a family member and expressed appreciation for Carolina Caring’s veterans-focused programs.
As a Marine, Showell served as a Personnel Administrative Chief, running companies and battalions and helping young Marines plan their career after their time in the military was complete. He retired from the Marines as a Sergeant Instructor at Officer Candidate School in Quantico. He continued his commitment to veterans and advocacy during his 23-year career with Veterans Affairs (VA), holding a wide range of leadership roles, including Chief of Ambulatory Care at a major VA medical center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he oversaw outpatient services for thousands of veterans. He spent his last eight years at the VA as a field examiner.
Throughout his military career and beyond, he has kept a small plaque from 1969 displaying his rank and role. The plaque serves as a quiet reminder of his service, leadership, and continued passion for veterans care.
Stories like these are what inspire Carolina Caring to foster deeper connection with veteran patients and their families. This mission also inspires Libby, who intends to continue his partnership with the organization in the coming year. “I won’t hesitate to take a free headshot for veterans who need one,” he says. “It would take more planning, but hopefully I can play around with some ideas [for veterans coffee photographs] in the coming months.”
Carolina Caring is proud to support veterans and their families through its participation in the national initiative, We Honor Veterans. The program is designed to address the unique physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of veterans and their loved ones.
For more information about the We Honor Veterans program at Carolina Caring and how the organization may support a veteran you know, visit carolinacaring.org/veteranscare/. To learn more about Carolina Caring’s mission to provide compassionate care for individuals living with serious illness, visit carolinacaring.org or call 828.466.0466.
Pictured: U.S. Marine veteran Mervin Showell gathers with his wife Stevenlynn, U.S. Army veteran, and son for a family portrait by Aaron Libby Photography.
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ABOUT CAROLINA CARING
Founded in 1979, Carolina Caring is an independent, community-based, nonprofit healthcare provider. It specializes in programs that offer relief from chronic conditions, serious illnesses, and the challenges they bring, including palliative medicine and hospice care for all ages, primary care, and grief counseling. Carolina Caring serves 12 counties across western North Carolina and the Charlotte Region. For more information about the organization and its mission, please call (828) 466-0466 or visit www.carolinacaring.org.
