Veterans Day and Remembrance: Restoring Photos of Those Who Served

Every November, Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in many Commonwealth countries (both on November 11) invite us to remember those who served. Many families have a portrait of a grandfather, great-uncle or grandmother in uniform: creased, faded, often small. Restoring it is a meaningful way to honor them.

Find the photos

• Formal portraits taken before deployment.
• Snapshots sent home in letters.
• Group photos of units.
• Wallet photos carried by the service member or their loved ones.

Check the backs for names, units, places and dates.

Restore them carefully

1. Capture at high resolution; military portraits are often small (see restoring small wallet photos).
2. In Refixo, tap Restore to remove cracks, creases and stains and sharpen the face and uniform.
3. Colorize if the family wishes, then check uniform colors against references (see colorizing military photos).
4. Compare insignia, medals and badges with the original; these are historically important details.

Research their service

A restored photo can lead to deeper family history:

• National archives hold service records in many countries.
• Uniform details (insignia, badges, collar tabs) can indicate branch, rank and unit.
• Local memorials, regimental museums and veterans' associations may hold more photos.

See using old photos for family tree research.

Ways to honor them

• Share the restored photo with the family on November 11, with their name, unit and dates.
• Print and frame it with medals or a letter in a shadow box (see framing old family photos).
• Contribute to memorial projects that collect photos of those who served, if appropriate.
• Tell their story to the younger generation.

Labeling

Caption the photo clearly: name, rank, branch or unit, years of service, place of the photo, and note if it was restored or colorized (see labeling old photos).

Photos of women who served

Remember that many women served too, as nurses, in auxiliary corps, in factories and in many other roles. Their photos are often less visible in family archives and less frequently labeled. Look for them in albums, restore them with the same care and record their roles and stories alongside the photos.

Unit and group photos

Large unit photos contain dozens of small faces. Scan them at high resolution, restore the whole image, then crop and restore the section containing your relative for a clearer face (see sharpening faces in old photos).

Frequently asked questions

Can old military photos be restored?

Yes. Cracks, creases, fading and blur can be repaired, and faces and uniform details sharpened.

Should I colorize a veteran's photo?

Many families do. Check uniform and medal colors against references, and keep the original.

How can I find out more about a relative's service?

Check national archives, military museums and veterans' associations in the relevant country.

When is Veterans Day?

November 11 in the United States; Remembrance Day is also observed on November 11 in many countries.