Woo000HOO, it’s Friday! And you know what happens on Friday – that’s right, the 52 week project 🙂 The theme for this week – Angles. Merriam-Webster defines ANGLE as “the precise viewpoint from which something is observed or considered.” When it comes to photography, the viewpoint is vital to the story I want my images tell. Sometimes it is the setting or location that determines the angle, oftentimes it is the subject that dictates the angle, and sometimes it is just a happy accident 🙂
With the sun shinning and the mercury rising, many people in Annapolis are getting their boats in the water and ready for the boating season, so Harvey and I headed out to the docks.
Read more »
Private First Class Gavin Colburn, a Reservist who joined the Army Reserve for the opportunities it afforded. He wanted to marry his girlfriend and go to collage to study law. Before he left for deployment, Gavin and his 17-year-old girlfriend got engaged. “They had a plan,” said his mother. “She would graduate a year early, they would go to college together. He’d be a lawyer, she a paralegal. They would always be together.” A roadside bomb in Iraq extinguished those dreams. PFC Gavin Colburn was killed when an IED exploded while he was in a convoy – he died a hero. Specialist Michelle Pfister, who also served in the 656th Transportation Company in Ohio, was Gavin’s battle buddy in Iraq, and was in the same truck when the IED exploded beneath them. According to Pfister, PFC Gavin Colburn shielded her, and sacrificed his life for hers. PFC Gavin Colburn was only 20 years old when he died April 22, 2005.
For his unimaginable sacrifice and courage while protecting others, PFC Colburn will always be remembered. And through Warrior Canine Connection’s Honor Litter puppy, who bears his name, thousands will learn of PFC Gavin Colburn – a true American Hero.
We will never forget his sacrifice.
Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie
The date was April 15, 2008. In the lawless southern provinces of Afghanistan, about 100 Marines left their military base at Kandahar Airfield as part of a supply convoy comprised of dozens of vehicles. Marine 1st Sgt. Luke J. Mercardante, the battalion sergeant major for Combat Logistics Battalion 24, was assigned to sit in the lead Humvee of the convoy, but at the last minute, he was moved to a vehicle farther back. During the trip, his vehicle detonated an improvised explosive device just as it started to go over a culvert beneath the road, causing a massive explosion that took the lives of 1st Sgt. Luke J. Mercardante and Cpl. Kyle W. Wilks, and injured two others. The tremendous explosion caused a crater in the road 12 feet wide and 6 feet deep, making it impossible for the convoy to move. This was an excruciating reminder that, years after the U.S. and allied forces brought down the Taliban leadership, there was (and is) still a very real presence of an enemy who will not give up.
Major Keith Owens later described Luke as “…the glue that held us together. He helped our small problems from becoming big problems.”
At a memorial service held for Luke, more than 100 Marines stood at attention as a Navy Petty Officer read an excerpt from a letter Luke wrote to his sister: “I want no person to ever feel sad or pity for me or my Marines as we endure hardship and sacrifice, as this is our calling with the unknown outcome being that of God’s master plan.” These are the words of a true American Hero!
We will always do our best to honor Luke’s memory. One of the ways we will do this is by sharing the story of Warrior Canine Connection’s Honor Litter puppy who carries his name. Through WCC’s Luke, thousands will learn about 1st Sgt. Luke J. Mercardante.
Today, on a Facebook page dedicated to keeping 1st Sgt. Mercardante’s memory of alive – In Loving Memory of 1st Sgt Luke Mercardante – was this quote:
“Six years today and it gets harder every year miss you so so much but I know [you’re] happy up there with all the Angels Love and miss you son.” – Gertrude Mercardante
We will never forget his sacrifice.
Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie
This week’s installment … Harvey au natural! The theme is rural, so Harvey and I hit the trails. Mostly, it is still brown and not very pretty, as spring is just starting to show up in Annapolis. Where we might not have flowers and the beginnings of green leaves, we did discover that the ticks survived the winter and are out in full force – gross! I’ve got the tick prevention down for Harvey, but am about ready to put Frontline on myself. Anyone have a great suggestion as to what works well for people, because the stuff I’m using may was well be honey to a fly?
I always like to experiment with how various different dogs look in similar settings. For example, I did a photoshoot recently where the dog look absolutely gorgeous in the brown brush. And Harvey, well, not so much! While he is essentially a black and brown dog, a cattle dog’s fur is usually mottled or speckled, which can make them a challenge to photograph in certain situations. Thankfully, he was very happy to be out an about until we found a spot of color to add to the mix 🙂
Next up, take a look at how Greater Cincinnati photographer, Carol Locey Photography, chose to highlight the theme this week!
Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie
Welcome back to our 52 week project! The theme for this week – Urban. One of the things that is the most fun with this project is to see how my fellow professional pet photographers interpret the theme each week. There are as many visions and interpretations as there are photographers participating. When I think of urban, I think of street art, cool graffiti, industrial buildings, grit. With that vision, Harvey and I set out to Eastport, Maryland to see what we could find…although I suspect Harvey was only in it for the yummy salmon treats 😉 We found a lot of really neat places that would be wonderful for photoshoots, but this wall was so much fun that I just couldn’t resist! More from Eastport on a later date, for now – please enjoy this seriously fun mural!
Next up in our blog ring Marlina, from Silver & Pixel Photography in sunny San Juan, Puerto Rico!
Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie
On this day five years ago, Lieutenant Florence B. Choe and her shipmate Lieutenant (junior grade) Francis Toner, were out for a Friday afternoon run. They were jogging on a frequently used path around the perimeter of Forward Operating Base Shaheen in Afghanistan, an area guarded by Afghan Army soldiers who had been trained by U.S. Forces. Suddenly, one of these Afghan soldiers raised his military issued weapon and fired a hail of bullets, bullets which hit and killed LT Choe. LTJG Toner rushed toward the shooter to stop him (a sobering reminder that our military runs toward the sound of gunfire). Francis was unarmed, though, and the Afghan “soldier” quickly shot and killed him.
LT Florence B. Choe, described by family and friends as “All Navy,” joined the Navy shortly after September 11, 2001, feeling it was her patriotic duty to do more. As a Medical Service Corps officer, she (along with many other Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines) was there to mentor the Afghan troops of the Afghan National Army. The gunman was not a random bad guy who slithered on to the base, but rather an Afghan National Army soldier, who was vetted and trained to Afghan Army standards. In other words, someone they should have been able to trust. Someone Florence and Francis trained. Someone who should have been watching over and keeping the Sailors and Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines out for a Friday afternoon jog safe. Instead, he murdered them in cold blood. Florence left behind her husband and daughter.
On this day, we honor the memory of LT Florence B. Choe and LTJG Francis Toner (who was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his valor during the incident) and take pride in who they were and what they did for the Afghani people. Through the sadness of their passing, we look to Warrior Canine Connection’s Florence with pride and encouragement as she honors her namesake’s memory as she becomes a highly trained service dog who will go on to serve one of the many veterans who so desperately need the special love and assistance only she can offer.
Did you know LT Florence B. Choe? Perhaps you know her family? If so, we would love to hear from you!
Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie
Happy Friday! This week for our 52 week project we were challenged with Dramatic Light for our theme. I love to play with light – it is so amazing how you can change the scene from happy and lighthearted to dark and moody just by changing the position your subject is to the light.
Here’s the dark and mysterious Harvey 🙂
Read more »
When I first started my project with Warrior Canine Connection’s Honor Litter, I set four goals I hope to achieve, and laid them out in my first blog post Focusing On Service – It Can Be Life Changing. To move toward these goals, this is the first in a series of individual spotlights on each Honor Litter Dog! Are you a “Lukian?” Or, a “Flo-fan?” Perhaps you’re a “Derek devotee?” I hope my Features are as fun for you to read as they are for me to make! Here, the dogs will be the stars! 🙂
A HUGE part of the making of a future Wounded Warrior service dog starts with the Puppy Parents. These amazing people give so much of their time, love and devotion to raise and train the puppy in their charge, knowing all the while that “their” puppy has a very important job to do…a job that will eventually take them from the loving family they have grown up in, and place them into the life of a very deserving veteran. So my question is – Who are these Puppy Parents and why did they choose to take on such a huge task?
As a way to learn more about these wonderful people (not to mention get lots and lots of puppy kisses) and show the lives the Honor Litter are leading, I thought it would be great to visit each of the puppies and their families one-on-one…Take a few photos, share a few laughs and really learn more on an individual level.
Thus, the Features are born! First up – Luke:
Read more »
This evening I would like to take a moment to remember a true American Hero. When I first started this blog and project with the Warrior Canine Connection Honor Litter, I introduced the dogs one by one. If you’ve been following along, you probably also recall that each of these amazing animals is named for a serviceman or woman, most of whom were either killed or severely wounded in action. Besides highlighting the profound effect these animals have on those they serve and the people around them, we should take a moment to remember those for whom the dogs are named, and recognize their sacrifices.
Yesterday, March 18, marks the one year anniversary of the death of U.S. Army Sergeant Derek McConnell. In 2011, while deployed in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom, Derek stepped on two IEDs while trying to save another soldier’s life. Derek was severely injured and had to have both legs amputated. It was a long hall for Derek, spending almost 2 months in the ICU and almost a year total in the hospital, before he returned home to New Jersey. Unfortunately, the joy of bring Derek home was short lived. Just when Derek and his family thought the worst was behind them, Derek had complications that required him to return to Walter Reed National Military Center, where he passed away last year.
Read more »
Happy Friday! The 52 week project theme for this week is Circles. As it happens, this theme could not have come at a better time. My travels this week brought me to Lake Placid, NY, and if you remember the 1980 Olympics, you will know exactly why it was perfect timing. 🙂
Lake Placid picked up 18″ of snow with the nor’easter that blew through a couple of days ago. Being that the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics were held here, I thought it was only fitting to show the Olympic rings during a blizzard.
Read more »
