PICTURES OF THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

We sit in our complacency,
oblivious to the price of freedom
and the sacrifice of others.
Assured of our supremacy,
but unwilling to pay the price:
blood and patriotism.
To the brave few we owe,
your sons and daughters and mine,
an unpayable debt.
God Bless you soldier
on your journey home.
We shall never forget,
those you leave behind,
and honor your memory
by trying to sooth their loss.
The fallen confirm the
righteousness of freedom
for all.
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First and second place at the picture of the year international this year

FIRST PLACE: Lost in our complacency
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as one of the most powerful in the process: "See the people in the windows? They'll sit right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They're going to remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."

SECOND PLACE: Sleeping beside her husband for the last time.
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."


THANK YOU: Todd Heisler and The Rocky Mountain News

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