Archive for 'OpLove'
Twenty one months old waiting patiently and shyly for her Daddy. Eight months pregnant and unbelievably happy Daddy gets to be home for the birth this time. Seven months away and smiling ear to ear at the sight of his girls.
A beautiful family. A selfless sacrifice. A teary reunion. My tears included.
Welcome home and thank you.
OpLove Disclaimer: The photos and other content of this publication do not constitute or imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense.
I recently became a volunteer photographer for the organization OperationLove. This homecoming session was my first session for the organization and something I’ll never forget.
Waiting at BWI was a new experience for me. So many wives, husbands, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends were there just waiting. Smiling. Eyes wide like it was Christmas morning. And to them it was. Their loved one was coming home. The feeling of excitement was tangible. You couldn’t escape it, and you didn’t want. I forgot momentarily I was there to work. What I was tempted to do was clasp my hands together and hold them tight under my chin and hold my breath as the doors opened. Waiting to hear where the next round of screams and cheers would come from. Whose loved one was home? It brought tears to my eyes to be surrounded by such love, honor, respect, and pride. I’ve never had that feeling before and it was truly awesome.
This beautiful mother and her adorably eager little girls waited so patiently, for hours, for their husband and daddy to come through that gate. What I thought about as I watched this lovely family wait so patiently, was that they, too, were heroes. Not just their husband and father. Their reaction was priceless. Tears, smiles, laughter. Nothing says true bliss like a little girl holding on so tight to her daddy, so elated to see him she has to kick her heel up. Except maybe a little girl so elated to see her daddy she holds tight with closed eyes, breathing him in. A smell she missed so dearly. It’s the simplicity of a moment between husband and wife who haven’t seen each other in so long, so in love, forehead to forehead. Silent because they know what the other is thinking.
It was an honor to be there for this moment and to give this family something that each of them will hopefully cherish for many, many years.
Welcome home, soldier. Welcome home. And thank you.
OpLove Disclaimer: The photos and other content of this publication do not constitute or imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense.