05/25/2026
Memorial Day has always been a holiday that I’ve loved, respected, and never wanted to take for granted. But it wasn’t until I met and her family that it truly became personal to me in a deeper way. Through her friendship, I have learned so much about our great country, the sacrifices that have been made to protect it, why we need each other, and the true beauty of America when people come together with courage, resilience, service, and love.
As I photographed this funeral, I was reminded in the deepest way that freedom is not free. It has been paid for through courage, sacrifice, and lives willingly laid down for others.
Watching a wife grieve the man she loved—a man who carried wounds from battle and ultimately gave his life because of them—was a powerful reminder that Memorial Day is so much more than a long weekend. It is a day to remember. To honor. To pause with gratitude.
I will never fully understand the weight carried by our military families, but today I am deeply thankful for those who have served, sacrificed, and loved this country so selflessly.
May we never take freedom for granted. ❤️🤍💙