Today, Veterans day, is one for which I have been waiting to post this photo.For me personally, it is a day of pride and honor to be counted among those who have served in the U.S. Military, but it is also a day of deep sorrow for all of us in honoring those who have lost theirs lives in service to others.
This photo, taken at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along the Mall in Washington D.C. is a stark representation of that sacrifice for me. As I was there photographing this austere monument filled with the names of those whom died in that war long ago, a fellow came up and spent some time quietly and solemnly looking at, then making a paper and pencil rubbing of one particular name etched into the cold, black granite. Perhaps it was his child's name or maybe a comrade in battle who life was cut short, but after a long, long while and some held back tears, he placed these long kept, well worn boots and hat at the base of the slab and walked slowly away.
Nobody else in the large crowd that day seemed to even notice his small gift in memorial to the life represented by that etching and this simple attire, but to me it was a very real marker of love, respect and connection to just one of the 58,261 PEOPLE who's names are there. Real people, real lives, lost. Families, spouses, friends changed forever.
How I wish for a day that wars would cease and we could just love and care for each other like this man did that day.
