Happy 4th of July everyone!  I’m so glad to be able to greet you all on such a wonderful day in our American history.  This is a very special day to me.  I am SO proud and GRATEFUL to be an American citizen.  This is something that should not be taken lightly.  Not many of us can say that we know exactly what it means to fight for our freedom.  We were not there on the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed…. we were not there when our forefather’s were fighting to have it put in place…. some of us were not there when the military men and women who faught in Vietnam returned to such a disgraceful homecoming {while being spit at and cursed – - - they fought for the same people who cursed them}… some of us were not there when we were called to war in Iraq where they found Saddam Hussein cowardly hiding in a hole in the ground…. some of us were not there when mortar attacks and IED’s were going off aimed directly for your vehicle…. these people had to literally fight for their country.  They know what it means to FIGHT!  Am I a proud, activist type of American citizen?  Of course I am!  But I still do not know what it literally means to fight and I certainly do not know what it feels like to have someone shoot directly at me with the aim to kill.  This is why I feel the urge so strongly to honor our American Troops on this day, the 4th of July, the anniversary of our America’s Independence.  All because of their sacrifices, this is why I want to give back.

Thank You American Military Members, past and present for all of your selfless, generous, strong spirits and for being brave enough to do something that not many Americans would voluntarily do.

With all of that being said, I would like to introduce to you all, our Independence Day Giveaway winner.  We will be shooting with the winner and his family very soon so stay tuned for their photos!  And well, now I guess I’ll let the story do the talking….

{submitted by Alex’s sister, Allison}

“You really never know how much you’re going to miss someone until you don’t see them for a very long time.   As the proud sister of a Marine, I had to realize the hard way, just how much I would miss my “not so little”, little brother.

Even before graduating high school, my brother Alex, decided that he wanted to become a Marine.   With tears in her eyes and pride in her heart, my mom took him to sign his papers during his senior year.  We were all so proud of his decision, yet we still had hidden fears about his future….where would he be stationed and what did God have planned for him?  Boot Camp lasted a long time, especially since he broke his arm in martial arts training, which caused him to stay months later than he was supposed to.  My mom and I encouraged him through our letters and it was like Christmas morning every time I opened the mailbox and saw a letter from him.   After boot camp graduation, he was able to come home for a few weeks, before leaving once again to train in North Carolina, and then Virginia.  Although he was away, knowing that he was still in the country, gave us some sense of peace.

Just as we got comfortable with his situation, Alex informed us that he was being sent to Okinawa, Japan for a two-year tour.   I thanked God that it was not Iraq or Afghanistan, but it was still another country and literally “a half a world away”.    With pride and honor, he courageously left for a new experience in August 2008.   For the past two years, my already small family has celebrated birthdays, Easters, Thanksgivings, and Christmases with one less chair at the table.   He has missed holidays, special events, and most importantly, a lot of time with his family.  There have been attempts for him to come home for a visit, but things were never able to work out…..

That is, until now!!!!  He will be coming home for a ten-day leave this July!!!  We found out a couple of months ago and have been filled with eager anticipation ever since!!   Words cannot describe how filled with joy we are to see him.  When I speak to my mom about it, I sometimes think she does everything she can to keep from bursting into tears.   My brother has worked so hard physically, mentally, and emotionally to be where he is now.   He truly represents the Marine Corps with its values of honor, courage, and commitment.

Having a family photo shoot would mean the world to us, as it would be a chance to capture memories that we would always cherish.  When his time home comes to an end and he returns to Okinawa for another two years, photographs of us all together would truly become our prized possessions.  The last time we took professional pictures was sometime when Alex was in elementary school.   This would be such an amazing present to give to my mom, as she has never taken professional pictures with all of her children.  As we get older and go our own ways, I know that photographs celebrating Alex’s time home would mean the world to her.   If you select us, be sure to bring the Kleenex……..if you don’t use them, we certainly will!!! “

Very Sincerely,

Allison

Thank you again Allison for submitting that touching story about you, your family and Alex’s journey.  It is an honor and a privelege to take part in this time of memory making for you all and I hope I live up to a wonderful standard for such wonderful people!

See you all very soon…

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