… Memorial Day is here and once again we remember those who not only served our nation but also gave their lives in doing so. Most celebrations talk in the large numbers and noticeably absent is the personal price to families and friends of those who have lost their lives in combat. Generic discussions remove the sense of personal sacrifice!
Many members of our families have served … my father-in-law served in Europe during WW I, four of my uncles served in WW II, my brother in law served in the Army approximately the same time I served in the USAF, my older brother served in the active reserves of the USMC and a nephew of mine served in the US Coast Guard … many friends served in WW II, Korea, Vietnam and in the Mid East, but only one family member lost his life in a war zone and that was my uncle Norm.
I didn’t know Norm very well as the last time I saw him I was only four and he was 20 and had enlisted in the USMC and crewed as the gunner in a dive bomber in the Pacific Theater. Norm was also working on becoming one of the Sergeant Pilots in the USMC at the time. I remember the sadness in the family when my grandparents were notified of his death and the flag below went up in a window in the front of their home … the flag displaying three blue stars was swapped out for the one below with two blue stars and one gold star.
The photo above is a picture I restored of my uncle Norman walking the streets of Hollywood months before he was deployed to the Pacific Theater. The composite photo below is of his marker in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.
All of us are blessed by those who have served this great country and made certain that we always have the option to remain a free and noble country and people … but today is that day when we especially remember those who gave it all … about 25,000 of 2,500,000 individuals in the colonies gave their lives in the war to establish the United States of America as a sovereign nation and to keep our freedom and nation and way over a million have made the sacrifice since then.
I wonder what great things these people would have accomplished … the families they would have had … lets honor their service and sacrifice made for us …
Enjoy the holiday today! a price has been paid for us to do so!
Smile, we are here and always there is hope!
Ted
… Let me not follow the clamor of the world, but
walk calmly in my path. Give me a few friends who
will love me for what I am; and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps the kindly light of hope.
And though age and infirmity overtake me, and
I come not within sight of the castle of my dreams,
teach me still to be thankful for life, and for time’s
olden memories that are good and sweet; and
may the evening’s twilight find me gentle still.
excerpt from A Prayer by Max Ehrman
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The easiest way to reach Mr. Grussing is by email: ted@tedgrussing.com
In addition to sales of photographs already taken Ted does special shoots for patrons on request and also does air-to-air photography for those who want photographs of their airplanes in flight. All special photographic sessions are billed on an hourly basis.
Ted also does one-on-one workshops for those interested in learning the techniques he uses. By special arrangement Ted will do one-on-one aerial photography workshops which will include actual photo sessions in the air.
More about Ted Grussing …