Michael Morgan

Every day in cities across America, we walk past people we rarely look at — men and women sitting on train platforms, sheltering under scaffolding, or curled beneath thin blankets on cold concrete. We see them, but we do not see them. Among them are thousands of U.S. military veterans — individuals who once answered the call of duty, who risked everything, and who carried the weight of our nation on their backs. Yet today, many of them carry nothing but a backpack, a cardboard sign, and memories that won’t let them sleep. The Silence Surrounding Their Sacrifice For years, I’ve worked with veterans throughout New York City — listening to their stories, supporting their transition, and witnessing firsthand how many fall between the cracks of a system that promised to protect them. What I’ve seen is heartbreaking. Some struggle with untreated PTSD. Some battle addiction. Some simply ran out of options. But almost all share a sense of invisibility — a belief that they were needed once, applauded once, honored once… and then abandoned. This reality is not a statistic; it is a wound. A national one. Why This Series Exists This photography series was created for one purpose: To give voice, dignity, and visibility to the veterans America has forgotten. Through raw imagery, real street encounters, and honest conversations, these portraits capture more than homelessness — they capture humanity, pain, resilience, and the truth we often look away from. These men and women placed themselves on the front line for our country. So why are they now sleeping on the front steps of train stations? They signed up to serve. They stood guard while we slept. They carried burdens most Americans will never understand. And yet today, they carry signs that plead, “Veteran. Hungry. Please help.” How did we let this happen? We Didn’t Just Lose Sight of Them — We Deserted Them This series confronts a painful reality: The United States did not simply fail our veterans. We deserted them. We cheered them when they deployed, thanked them when they returned, and then left them to navigate trauma, bureaucracy, poverty, and isolation alone. This project refuses to stay silent about that abandonment. Every photograph is a mirror held up to our society. Every frame asks a question we must all answer: If they were willing to die for us, how are we not willing to fight for them? Art With Purpose Photography has the power to disrupt complacency. It can spark outrage, compassion, and action. My hope is that this series becomes a catalyst — not just for awareness, but for change. I want people to see what I see. To feel what these veterans feel. To understand that behind every face is a story worth hearing and a life worth saving. Homelessness among veterans should not exist. Not in the most powerful nation in the world. Not when these men and women already sacrificed more than enough. The Call to Action This blog and this series are not just art — they are a call to accountability. Support the shelters. Contact your representatives. Donate to organizations doing the work. Check on the veterans you know. Say their names. Share their stories. Do not look away. Because if we can photograph them, we can acknowledge them. If we can acknowledge them, we can fight for them. And if we fight for them, we can finally bring them home.