An American Son

God & Country:  The casket of Pfc. Davis is taken from Yucaipa Christian Church amongst flag bearers.

They came from the neighborhood.
They came from as far as La Mirada, Dallas-Texas and Michigan.

They came flying the Red, White, and Blue.

They came to say “Thank You” and “Good-Bye” to Pfc. Tyler Davis of Yucaipa, CA.

Young kids learn about being an American.

They brought their children, their prayers, and their tears.What they brought in large doses was their gratitude.

Pfc. Tyler Davis, 20, was killed June 9 in Afghanistan
when his convoy vehicle struck a roadside bomb
during combat operations in the city of Tore Obeh. 

I, like many in attendance did not know him.  Yet, I imagine that Davis was an American Son, like all of our sons.  He was probably a typical boy with all that comes with it.  He had friends, a favorite movie, a favorite game to play.  He probably had a girl he was sweet on.  But one day, the boy became a man and he made a decision to serve our country.  Then Tyler began doing the work of a man:  a man who served the United States with duty and honor.

Even those who did not know him, mourned for him & his family.

  

On this day, my flag was waving in my heart because my hands were filled with the tools of my trade.  But as I worked, my heart, prayers, and tears went out to the family left behind.

For on this day, even amongst the diversity of the crowds there was no separation - myself included.  Everybody was united:  the young and the old, the near and the far, even the Diablos and the Vagos motorcycle groups.  They were all united under one common truth:  We live and breathe freedom because of the sacrifice of brave men and women who protect that freedom.

In 1864, Abraham Lincoln wrote a letter to Lydia Bixby, the mother of five sons believed to have died in battle during the Civil War.  In it he wrote some elegant words which I offer the Davis family in their time of grief:

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom.

The road to Sunnsylope Cemetery was lined with fellow

A Color Guard leads the Davis family into Sunnyslope Cemetery in Beaumont, CA.

Desiree & Kirk Davis hold roses at the close of funeral services

 Everyone in attendance, whether they were in 

the church, on the street, or at Sunnyslope Cemetery knows what President Lincoln was talking about.  Freedom isn’t free.  There is a cost.  

We are Americans.  We fight for what we believe in.  We fight for freedom, because we know that true freedom comes from God.  We know that He has separated our Country to be greatest nation in the world, and we know that blessing must be protected.  And when one of our American Sons die in service, we all feel a piece of that sacrifice, because without it there is no freedom.

Desiree Davis places a kiss goodbye on her son's casket

We must remember those sacrifices when enjoy our freedoms, however simple they may be:

When we breathe fresh air on our morning jogs
When we worship as we please
When we speak as we wish
Every time we cast a vote

Every time we do things that in other countries people die for, we must remember that freedom isn’t free.

The Davis family knows that.

 I join the thousand that day that came to say:

“God bless you Pfc. Davis!”

“Thank you for your service.”

An Honor Guard prepares to deliver the U.S. Flag to the Davis family.

Greater love has no one than this: 

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15: 13)

Veterans Valentine

The best part of my job is when I can witness-not necessarily capture with my camera- a moment like this.

Quiet.  Personal.  Intimate.

The man kneeling is Army Sgt. 1st Class Joe Verdusco.
The man in the wheel chair is 58-year-old Air Force veteran Andrew Hawkins.

And here in this hallway, as the sergeant tried to cheer up this man in the wheel chair, I realized that these two men were potentially on opposite sides of their military lives.

Verdusco was one of the active duty members of the military who came to deliver some of the almost 2,000 Valentines cards to veterans at the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital in Loma Linda February 16, 2011.

Young Navy recruits wait to deliver Valentines cards.

As I walked up and down the halls of the hospital, with personnel of the Army, Marines, and Navy, I realized that I was among members of an exclusive club:  those that would lay down their lives for our country's freedom.

In the course of my assignment I witnessed hugs, smiles, and salutes not from patient to visitor but from brother to brother.  These men and women were family.  There was an automatic affinity present in the meetings in these halls today.  It was a place where the past, present, and future mingled.

A veteran gets a visit from a U.S. Marine.

In the hand of one sergeant, was a collection of Valentines cards not unlike those my kids would make at school.  In them were the love, wishes, and prayers for those we call soldiers.  For the veterans, it was a double blessing.  Not only did they have these kind words from the schools and churches in the community, they got these messages hand-delivered by active duty in uniform.

This vet felt like he was receiving the Medal of Honor.

The smiles on the faces of some of these veterans helped me imagine how much it meant to them. Being here today reminded me of how little it takes to make someone feel special.  Today, it was a card.  A hug.  A visit.  A little bit of conversation.

In between frames I was able to chat with some Vietnam vets.  These guys were so polite, and so nice.  I could tell that down deep these men had a peace inside them.  They were enjoying what they had fought for.  They very much appreciated the support coming from these cards today.  What really moved me about these guys, was that as bad as they had it in Vietnam, they were more concerned about G.I.s doing back-to-back tours in today's campaigns. 

Two Vietnam veterans get a special visitor.

A Valentine that made a difference.

Whether it was veteran of a past war or a new recruit, what these men and women shared was a pride in their service and their country.

That’s not an easy thing to capture with the camera’s eye.

But I’m glad I saw with my own eyes.

Army veteran Ken Munson, 53, left, gets a visit from Sgt. 1st Class David Paez