Last night I was so worn out. Having slept pretty badly Sunday night, then braving the mall for some gifts for the mom and hunting through FOUR supermarkets to find buttermilk to make red velvet cupcakes for Christmas, the day handed my rear end to me. So it’s no wonder I fell fast asleep forgetting completely to update with this week’s Military Monday. So I thought to myself that I could just let it go since I already missed it. But then it dawned on me that I’ve missed a couple of weeks, so I’m channeling an old cliche and saying: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
I recently clicked through to Blog 4 Mom because one of the PR/Social Media/Marketing pros I follow, Chris Brogan, tweeted his thoughts were with this woman and her family. I remember at the time reading her tweets (which are now private) regarding her son. Out of respect for her privacy, I won’t discuss the details I recall, but she did lose her child and I hope she knows my thoughts, too, are with her and her family. I hope they find the peace and quiet they need to mourn their loss.
I bring this to light for my Military Monday post because while looking through her site, there was a posting that struck me and I wanted to share it in the context of the MM posts.
Operation Love Reunited is an organization that arranges free professional photography sessions to service members and their families to capture the moments surrounding deployment. This group of photographers volunteer to shoot the pre-deployment, deployed, or their homecoming/reunion – at no charge to the family. “Pre-Deployment & Deployment sessions help you say goodbye and cope with being away” while photographers shooting returning sessions “will want to accompany your family to the welcoming home of your spouse or loved one, and capture that first glimpse, that first embrace, and all the love that surrounds every person who walks off that plane, into their families arms.”
All you have to do is use the locator to find a photographer in your area, contact them and let them know you’d like to be photographed as part of the program. The photographer should take it from there. It’s a beautiful and touching service (look through some of the images if you need a good, cathartic cry) and if you’re a photographer with the means and the resources, an excellent way to show your gratitude for the real heroes of our country.
Thank you once again to YOYO for inspiring us to participate in Military Monday, and to Marilla for being on time with her posts, allowing me to find the names for the week. After the jump is a long list, since I missed a couple of weeks.
Robert Lee Hollar Jr., 35, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Sep 01, 2005 Griffin, Georgia
Lonnie J. Parson, 39, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Sep 02, 2005 Norcross, Georgia
Matthew Charles Bohling, 22, Army Sergeant, Sep 05, 2005 Eagle River, Alaska
Jeffrey A. Williams, 20, Army Corporal, Sep 05, 2005 Warrenville, Illinois
Luke C. Williams, 35, Army Corporal, Sep 05, 2005 Knoxville, Tennessee
Jude R. Jonaus, 27, Army Staff Sergeant, Sep 06, 2005 Miami, Florida
Franklin R. Vilorio, 26, Army Sergeant, Sep 06, 2005 Miami, Florida
Robert N. Martens, 20, Navy Hospitalman, Sep 06, 2005 Queen Creek, Arizona
Christopher L. Everett, 23, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Sep 07, 2005 Huntsville, Texas
Kurtis Dean K. Arcala, 22, Army Sergeant, Sep 11, 2005 Palmer, Alaska
Jeremy M. Campbell, 21, Army Sergeant, Sep 11, 2005 Middlebury, Pennsylvania
Robert D. Macrum, 22, Navy Seaman Apprentice, Sep 12, 2005 Sugarland, Texas
Alfredo B. Silva, 35, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 15, 2005 Calexico, California
Shane C. Swanberg, 24, Marine Lance Corporal, Sep 15, 2005 Kirkland, Washington
Matthew L. Deckard, 29, Army Sergeant, Sep 16, 2005 Elizabethtown, Kentucky
David H. Ford IV, 20, Army Specialist, Sep 16, 2005 Ironton, Ohio
Alan Nye Gifford, 39, Army 1st Sergeant, Sep 16, 2005 Tallahassee, Florida
Regilio E. Nelom, 45, Army Staff Sergeant, Sep 17, 2005 Queens, New York
Mark H. Dooley, 27, Army National Guard 1st Lieutenant, Sep 19, 2005 Wallkill, New York
Michael Egan, 36, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 19, 2005 Pennsauken, New Jersey
William L. Evans, 22, Army National Guard Specialist, Sep 19, 2005 Hallstead, Pennsylvania
William V. Fernandez, 37, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 19, 2005 Reading, Pennsylvania
Lawrence E. Morrison, 45, Army Reserve Sergeant 1st Class, Sep 19, 2005 Yakima, Washington
William Alvin Allers III, 28, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Sep 20, 2005 Leitchfield, Kentucky
Pierre A. Raymond, 28, Army Reserve Sergeant, Sep 20, 2005 Lawrence, Massachusetts
Travis M. Arndt, 23, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 21, 2005 Bozeman, Montana
Kevin M. Jones, 21, Army Corporal, Sep 22, 2005 Washington, North Carolina
Scott P. McLaughlin, 29, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 22, 2005 Hardwick, Vermont
Mike T. Sonoda Jr., 34, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 22, 2005 Fallbrook, California
Andrew Joseph Derrick, 25, Army Sergeant, Sep 23, 2005 Columbia, South Carolina
Paul C. Neubauer, 40, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 23, 2005 Oceanside, California
Daniel R. Scheile, 37, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Sep 24, 2005 Antioch, California
Brian E. Dunlap, 34, Marine Reserve Sergeant, Sep 24, 2005 Vista, California
Shawn A. Graham, 34, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 25, 2005 Red Oak, Texas
Casey E. Howe, 32, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Sep 26, 2005 Philadelphia, New York
Tulsa T. Tuliau, 33, Army Master Sergeant, Sep 26, 2005 Watertown, New York
Howard P. Allen, 31, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 26, 2005 Mesa, Arizona
Andrew P. Wallace, 25, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 26, 2005 Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Michael J. Wendling, 20, Army National Guard Specialist, Sep 26, 2005 Mayville, Wisconsin
Elijah M. Ortega, 19, Marine Private, Sep 26, 2005 Oxnard, California
Jason A. Benford, 30, Army Staff Sergeant, Sep 27, 2005 Toledo, Ohio
Elizabeth Nicole Jacobson, 21, Air Force Airman 1st Class, Sep 28, 2005 Riviera Beach, Florida
Daniel L. Arnold, 27, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Sep 28, 2005 Montrose, Pennsylvania
Oliver J. Brown, 19, Army National Guard Private 1st Class, Sep 28, 2005 Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Steve Morin Jr., 34, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 28, 2005 Arlington, Texas
George A. Pugliese, 39, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Sep 28, 2005 Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Eric W. Slebodnik, 21, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 28, 2005 Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania
Lee A. Wiegand, 20, Army National Guard Specialist, Sep 28, 2005 Hallstead, Pennsylvania
Joshua J. Kynoch, 23, Army Corporal, Oct 01, 2005 Santa Rosa, California
Jens E. Schelbert, 31, Army Staff Sergeant, Oct 01, 2005 New Orleans, Louisiana
Anthony N. Kalladeen, 26, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 08, 2005 Purchase, New York
Hernando Rios, 29, Army National Guard Private 1st Class, Aug 08, 2005 Queens, New York
Ramon E. Gonzales Cordova, 30, Marine Staff Sergeant, Aug 08, 2005 Davie, Florida
Miguel Carrasquillo, 25, Army Specialist, Aug 09, 2005 River Grove, Illinois
Nathaniel E. “Nate” Detample, 19, Army National Guard Private 1st Class, Aug 09, 2005 Morrisville, Pennsylvania
John Kulick, 35, Army National Guard Specialist, Aug 09, 2005 Harleysville, Pennsylvania
Ryan S. Ostrom, 25, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Aug 09, 2005 Liberty, Pennsylvania
Gennaro Pellegrini Jr., 31, Army National Guard Specialist, Aug 09, 2005 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Francis J. Straub Jr., 24, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 09, 2005 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Michael A. Benson, 40, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Aug 10, 2005 Winona, Minnesota
Evenor C. Herrera, 22, Marine Lance Corporal, Aug 10, 2005 Gypsum, Colorado
Rusty W. Bell, 21, Army Specialist, Aug 12, 2005 Pocahontas, Arkansas
David L. Giaimo, 24, Army 1st Lieutenant, Aug 12, 2005 Waukegan, Illinois
Brian K. Derks, 21, Army Specialist, Aug 13, 2005 White Cloud, Michigan
Toccara R. Green, 23, Army Specialist, Aug 14, 2005 Rosedale, Maryland
Asbury F. Hawn II, 35, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Aug 14, 2005 Lebanon, Tennessee
Gary L. Reese Jr., 22, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 14, 2005 Ashland City, Tennessee
Shannon D. Taylor, 30, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 14, 2005 Smithville, Tennessee
Jose L. Ruiz, 28, Army Specialist, Aug 15, 2005 Brentwood, New York
Joshua P. Dingler, 19, Army National Guard Specialist, Aug 15, 2005 Hiram, Georgia
Paul A. Saylor, 21, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 15, 2005 Norcross, Georgia
Thomas J. Strickland, 27, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 15, 2005 Douglasville, Georgia
Michael J. Stokely, 23, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 16, 2005 Sharpsburg, Georgia
Nathan K. Bouchard, 24, Army Sergeant, Aug 18, 2005 Wildomar, California
Jeremy W. Doyle, 24, Army Staff Sergeant, Aug 18, 2005 Chesterton, Maryland
Ray M. Fuhrmann II, 28, Army Specialist, Aug 18, 2005 Novato, California
Timothy J. Seamans, 20, Army Private 1st Class, Aug 18, 2005 Jacksonville, Florida
Willard Todd Partridge, 35, Army Sergeant, Aug 20, 2005 Ferriday, Louisiana
Elden D. Arcand, 22, Army Private 1st Class, Aug 21, 2005 White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Brian Lee Morris, 38, Army Staff Sergeant, Aug 21, 2005 Centreville, Michigan
Joseph C. Nurre, 22, Army Reserve Sergeant, Aug 21, 2005 Wilton, California
James J. Cathey, 24, Marine 2nd Lieutenant, Aug 21, 2005 Reno, Nevada
Hatim S. Kathiria, 23, Army Specialist, Aug 22, 2005 Fort Worth, Texas
Joseph Daniel Hunt, 27, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 22, 2005 Sweetwater, Tennessee
Victoir P. Lieurance, 34, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Aug 22, 2005 Seymour, Tennessee
Ramon Romero, 19, Marine Private 1st Class, Aug 22, 2005 Huntington Park, California
Carlos J. Diaz, 27, Army 1st Lieutenant, Aug 23, 2005 Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico
Chris S. Chapin, 39, Army National Guard Master Sergeant, Aug 23, 2005 Proctor, Vermont
Trevor J. Diesing, 30, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Aug 25, 2005 Plum City, Wisconsin
Ivica Jerak, 42, Army Master Sergeant, Aug 25, 2005 Houston, Texas
Timothy M. Shea, 22, Army Corporal, Aug 25, 2005 Sonoma, California
Joseph L. Martinez, 21, Army Corporal, Aug 27, 2005 Las Vegas, Nevada
Obediah J. Kolath, 32, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Aug 28, 2005 Louisburg, Missouri
Dennis P. Hay, 32, Army Chief Warrant Officer, Aug 29, 2005 Valdosta, Georgia
Charles R. Rubado, 23, Army 2nd Lieutenant, Aug 29, 2005 Clearwater, Florida
Gregory J. Fester, 41, Army Reserve Major, Aug 30, 2005 Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jason E. Ames, 21, Army Specialist, Aug 31, 2005 Cerulean, Kentucky
Monta S. Ruth, 26, Army Sergeant, Aug 31, 2005 Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Lowell T. Miller II, 35, Army National Guard Captain, Aug 31, 2005 Flint, Michigan
George Ray Draughn Jr., 29, Army National Guard Sergeant, Sep 01, 2005 Decatur, Georgia
Adrian J. Butler, 28, Army Specialist, Jul 27, 2005 East Lansing, Michigan
Edward L. Myers, 21, Army Specialist, Jul 27, 2005 St. Joseph, Missouri
John O. Tollefson, 22, Army Specialist, Jul 27, 2005 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Benjamin D. Jansky, 28, Army Reserve Captain, Jul 27, 2005 Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Christopher P. Lyons, 24, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Jul 28, 2005 Mansfield/Shelby, Ohio
Andre L. Williams, 23, Marine Reserve Corporal, Jul 28, 2005 Galloway, Ohio
Ernesto R. Guerra, 20, Army Private, Jul 29, 2005 Long Beach, California
Jason D. Scheuerman, 20, Army Private 1st Class, Jul 30, 2005 Lynchburg, Virginia
Robert A. Swaney, 21, Army Private 1st Class, Jul 30, 2005 West Jefferson, Ohio
Victor A. Anderson, 39, Army National Guard Sergeant 1st Class, Jul 30, 2005 Ellaville, Georgia
Jonathon C. Haggin, 26, Army National Guard Sergeant, Jul 30, 2005 Kingsland, Georgia
David R. Jones Sr., 45, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Jul 30, 2005 Augusta, Georgia
Ronnie L. “Rod” Shelley Sr., 34, Army National Guard Sergeant, Jul 30, 2005 Valdosta, Georgia
James D. Carroll, 23, Army National Guard Sergeant, Jul 31, 2005 McKenzie, Tennessee
Jeffrey A. Boskovitch, 25, Marine Reserve Corporal, Aug 01, 2005 Seven Hills, Ohio
Roger D. Castleberry Jr., 26, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 01, 2005 Austin, Texas
David J. Coullard, 32, Marine Reserve Sergeant, Aug 01, 2005 Glastonbury, Connecticut
Daniel Nathan Deyarmin Jr., 22, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 01, 2005 Tallmadge, Ohio
James R. Graham III, 25, Marine Reserve Sergeant, Aug 01, 2005 Coweta, Oklahoma
Brian P. Montgomery, 26, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 01, 2005 Willoughby, Ohio
Nathaniel S. Rock, 26, Marine Reserve Sergeant, Aug 01, 2005 Toronto, Ohio
James D. McNaughton, 27, Army Reserve Staff Sergeant, Aug 02, 2005 Middle Village, New York
Thomas C. Hull, 41, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class, Aug 02, 2005 Princeton, Illinois
Jerry Lewis Ganey Jr., 29, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 03, 2005 Folkston, Georgia
Mathew V. Gibbs, 21, Army National Guard Specialist, Aug 03, 2005 Ambrose, Georgia
Charles Houghton Warren, 36, Army National Guard Sergeant 1st Class, Aug 03, 2005 Duluth, Georgia
Adam J. Strain, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Smartville, California
Timothy Michael Bell Jr., 22, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 West Chester, Ohio
Eric J. Bernholtz, 23, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Grove City, Ohio
Nicholas William B. Bloem, 20, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Belgrade, Montana
Michael J. Cifuentes, 25, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Fairfield, Ohio
Christopher Jenkins Dyer, 19, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Cincinnati, Ohio
Grant B. Fraser, 22, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Anchorage, Alaska
Bradley J. Harper, 25, Marine Reserve Sergeant, Aug 03, 2005 Dresden, Ohio
Justin F. Hoffman, 27, Marine Reserve Sergeant, Aug 03, 2005 Delaware, Ohio
David Kenneth J. Kreuter, 26, Marine Reserve Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Cincinnati, Ohio
Aaron H. Reed, 21, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Chillicothe, Ohio
Edward August Schroeder II, 23, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Columbus, Ohio
David S. Stewart, 24, Marine Reserve Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Bogalusa, Louisiana
Kevin G. Waruinge, 22, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Tampa, Florida
William Brett Wightman, 22, Marine Reserve Lance Corporal, Aug 03, 2005 Sabina, Ohio
Nils George Thompson, 19, Army Private 1st Class, Aug 04, 2005 Confluence, Pennsylvania
Chad J. Simon, 32, Marine Reserve Staff Sergeant, Aug 04, 2005 Monona/Madison, Wisconsin
Brett Eugene Walden, 40, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Aug 05, 2005 Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Robert V. Derenda, 42, Army Reserve Sergeant 1st Class, Aug 05, 2005 Ledbetter, Kentucky
Terry W. Ball Jr., 36, Marine Gunnery Sergeant, Aug 05, 2005 East Peoria, Illinois
Brahim J. Jeffcoat, 25, Army National Guard Sergeant, Aug 06, 2005 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kurt E. Krout, 43, Army National Guard Specialist, Aug 06, 2005 Spinnerstown, Pennsylvania
Chase Johnson Comley, 21, Marine Lance Corporal, Aug 06, 2005 Lexington, Kentucky
Seferino J. Reyna, 20, Army Private 1st Class, Aug 07, 2005 Phoenix, Arizona
