Together Again...

How grateful I am to the men and women who serve in the military to preserve the freedoms we too often take for granted. 

When I think of the days, weeks, months and even years that they and their families sacrifice on our behalf, it seems totally inconsequential to give a few short hours to shoot some photos for them. Tonight I was privileged to photograph the joyful homecoming of a father and husband, the reunion of a lovely family. 

May all who serve experience the joy of coming home safely. That's my prayer for them.

If you know someone in the military who is being deployed, has been deployed or is coming home soon, tell them or a family member about Operation Love: Reunited. They may qualify for no-fee photo portrait sessions. Click HERE for information about Operation Love: Reunited and the services they offer.

Reunited

I can't imagine anything harder than sending a son, a husband, a brother, a father off to war. I've never done it myself. I've seen friends do it, and I marvel at their strength and courage. The same would be true if it were a daughter, a wife, a sister or a mother.

On the other end of that, there can't be anything more joyous than having that loved one return home, looking in their eyes, feeling them in your arms, breathing the same air.

I was privileged to experience that when I was asked by a friend to accompany her family as they welcomed her son, a Marine, home from his tour of duty a couple years ago. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life as the families waited anxiously for their young men to arrive.

How grateful I was to be there, to capture the moments as images, and to be able to say thank you, myself, to that brave young man for his courageous sacrifice and service.

Ever since then, I've wanted to do something for other military families who give so much to our country. And then I discovered Operation Love: Reunited, a non-profit organization of photographers who volunteer to capture those special moments in the lives of military families as they come and go in the course of doing their duty...for us.

And now is my chance to help, along with other photographers who are like-minded. If you or a loved-one are deploying, deployed or returning home and you want someone to help capture the precious moments, check the OpLove website to see if you qualify for free photo sessions and to find a photographer in your area.

Thank you for all you do to protect and preserve our lives and our freedoms.