Inspiring Photo: Dedication #9376004

Dedication

Uploaded: November 11, 2009

Description

In honor of Veterans Day, I'm posting an image of the US flag hanging from the stern of the USCGC Diligence, while the USS North Carolina (BB55) floats in her berth across the Cape Fear River.

This was taken with my first digital camera, a 3.2mp Olympus that I purchased on clearance for $20. I believe this image dates back to 2006.

Exif: Model: X100,D540Z,C310Z

Comments

Tess L. Yee November 11, 2009

Today is Veterans Day in the United States, a day whose history dates back to 1918. It is an opportunity for American citizens to respect and honor those who have served this country in combat.

I dedicate this message to my father, first and foremost, who served in the United States Army Signal Corps. He chased spies in Germany shortly after the close of WWII, and continued to serve during the beginning of the Korean War. This upcoming Thanksgiving weekend will mark the 9th anniversary of his passing from this Earth.

I dedicate this message to all those who have served in combat, and to those who continue to do so. I remind myself of the importance of supporting and honoring veterans and current military personnel, even if I disagree with the politics of a mission.

This message is for the souls whose names and ranks are engraved on tombstones and grave markers, for those whose graves bear no witness to their identity, and for those whose final resting place is not on US soil.

This message is for those who serve today, whether they find themselves in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, spend their days and nights monitoring the border between North and South Korea, or serve in countless other places of political and military unrest.

In the spirit of honoring and respecting those who have served, those who have fallen, and those currently serve, this dedication is for the mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, those not yet born, the extended family, and the friends. All of these lives are irrevocably changed when a loved one chooses to serve their county, whether or not they ever see combat.

On this particular Veterans Day, a special dedication goes out to Dean Harold Meyers, who survived the rice paddies and jungles of Vietnam, only to be felled 30+ years later by the bullet from a sniper who was only 9 when Dean first arrived in Southeast Asia, and who had himself served in the US Army.

This special dedication is also extended to the 13 men and women who met their death on an Army base in Texas on November 5, 2009, a fate forced upon them by one of their own.

But even as we are called to remember these souls, we should also be reminded not to render judgment in haste. Condemn an act based on its own merits, but judge the perpetrator only after seeking understanding, rather than judging from hate or fear. We must know our enemy in order to defeat him. Failing that understanding, we are likely to suffer a fresh defeat.
#1203613

Jeff Robinson November 11, 2009

Wow - So well done for today Tess and your words are very powerful... Nice work! Jeff #8121935

Amy M. Wilson November 11, 2009

Wonderful image and message, nicely done, Tess! #8121950

Maria A. Gonzalez November 11, 2009

Beautiful dedication,Tess...Your words are very powerful as Jeff said..
Excellent composition and subject..Very well done. #8121953

Mary L. Graham November 11, 2009

Beautiful Dedication Tess!! =) #8122008

Agnes Fegan November 11, 2009

A beautiful dedication for Veteran's Day Tess! #8122027

Joy Rector November 11, 2009

beautiful, love it #8122032

Monnie Ryan November 11, 2009

Beautiful, well-composed photo and a wonderful tribute, Tess! #8122101

Anne M. Young November 11, 2009

Great image and I always enjoy your messages! #8122159

Jack Ryan November 11, 2009

An excellent photo and very appropriate for today...and every day!!! Well done!!! #8122197

Cindy Harrison November 11, 2009

beautiful lighting on this very great capture ;] #8122226

Melissa G. Meiselman November 11, 2009

Outstanding capture, simply perfect for today with a beautifully written message, Tess!! #8122518

Renata Gusciora November 11, 2009

Fabulous image with wonderful pov and composition,Tess!Great tribute! #8122547

Margaret R. Barry November 11, 2009

Fantastic composition, light and message, Tess. Perfect for the day! #8122617

Hal Bambrick November 11, 2009

STUNNING Tess!!!!!. #8122621

Marty Straub November 11, 2009

What a great photo and tribute to our veterans, Tess. The light on the top and base of the flagpole and the side of the North Carolina is an amazing capture.

Nowadays my phone has a 3.2 mp camera with a flash. It can't take a photo this well ~maybe in your hands. #8122736

Jyri Vissak November 11, 2009

Beautiful composition and tones! Very patriotic. #8122779

Tiia Vissak November 11, 2009

a great capture & dedication! #8122829

Tess L. Yee November 11, 2009

Thank you for all of the wonderful comments about the image. As I said, it's a few years old, from a time when all I did was point and shoot, without regard to any technical elements.

Still, it seemed appropriate to post it today, and it was important to me that I leave a message that's a bit removed from my normal jocularity.

#8122905

Lindley Johnson November 11, 2009

Lovely image with wonderful light, color, and composition, Tess. Your tribute is beautifully written and perfect for today. Thank you for sharing both with us. #8122929

Mike Clime November 11, 2009

Nice capture, comp and dedication! This photo was worth the price of the camera! #8122971

Kerry Hill November 11, 2009

Lovely capture and dedication, Tess!! #8123001

Wm Nosal November 11, 2009

Wonderful Shot and Tribute #8123012

Wm Nosal November 11, 2009

Wonderful Shot and Tribute #8123015

Rony Sagy November 11, 2009

Tess, beautiful thoughtful dedication. The photo is beautiful and appropriate. #8123149

Gord MacEachern November 11, 2009

Fantastic image Tess and such a beautiful tribute!! #8123175

ROLAN NARMAN November 11, 2009

Excellent image and presentation Tess! #8123213

Jessica Jenney November 11, 2009

Wonderful image and tribute, Tess! #8123282

Tammy M. Anderson November 11, 2009

Beautiful image and dedication, Tess. #8123294

Nancy L. Green November 11, 2009

GREAT capture and wonderful Veterans day tribute!! <>< #8123336

Dianna Murphy November 11, 2009

What a cool shot. Its beautiful and very appropriate. Thanks! USMC mom #8123417

Carla Metzler November 11, 2009

Excellent! #8123436

Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna November 11, 2009

What an awesome image and incredible dedication to our defenders, Tess!!! :-) k #8123449

Randy D. Dinkins November 11, 2009

Great image and dedication. Great post. #8123529

Mary Beth Aiello November 11, 2009

Outstanding composition and tribute, Tess. So well done. #8123831

Patrick Rouzes November 11, 2009

The angle, tones, lighting & clarity are examples of your talent to spot a photo op, Tess! AMAZING! A touching & sincere dedication also! You sound very, very proud of your Dad! #8123860

Barbara Waldoch November 11, 2009

Wonderful image, Tess! #8123889

Stefania Barbier November 11, 2009

truly wonderful capture... lighting is exceptional! #8124023

Kirsten Kiki Kjaer November 11, 2009

A beautiful tribute, Tess!!! #8124126

Manuel Barrera November 12, 2009

Wonderful tribute and superb digital work #8124313

Marcel J. Fernandez November 12, 2009

Beautiful thought and image! #8124533

Graham Robards November 12, 2009

Wow four years ago! Amazing what you can do with econimical cameras tee, a wonderful sho! ~Pat #8124770

Gary Lange November 12, 2009

What a superb image, Tess!! I love battleships! I served 20 years, thanks for the dedication, for vets and the souls of those lost last week. My older brother Chuck died unexpectedly last week, he was only 51 and had also served 20 years in the Navy. I'd like to think that he somehow can also see this dedication.

Beautiful work.

#8125300

Tess L. Yee November 13, 2009

Heartfelt appreciation for all of the wonderful comments.

Gentle thoughts on the unexpected loss of your brother, Gary...thanks to both of you for your service (and for Dianna's son, and for all those on BP who have served, or have loved ones who have taken up the call to serve). #8128347

Carrie M. Groseclose November 13, 2009

Simply beautiful image and tribute, Tess. Outstanding!! #8129672

Tammy D. Ferren November 14, 2009

What a wonderful image and dedication, Tess. I love the composition on this...just beautiful! #8130378

Ann Coates November 14, 2009

Fantastic dedication and facts Tess. Composed and presented beautifully. #8130791

Nancy J. Locke November 14, 2009

Tess, what a great capture and tribute!!! AWESOME composition, lighting, POV and tones.

Powerful.

Cheers! Nancy J L #8131821

Laura E. Swan November 15, 2009

This is amazing, Tess. Older camera or not. It's beautiful. Someone told me recently that the real talent is 90% behind the camera and 10% the camera itself! :)

Wonderful image! JOB WELL DONE FOR OUR COUNTRYMEN AND COUNTRYWOMEN!

-Laura :)

#8132107

Howard B. Cheek November 15, 2009

Wonderful dedication to your father, and all our Veterans Tess.
They deserve our sincerest & heartfelt thanks, there is no doubt..
As to your last paragraph concerning the men & women murdered right here in my backyard..
I do not have "hate" or "fear" in my heart concerning the "perpetrator" in this case..
I know the enemy when I see him. His name is radical Islamic fundamentalism. He seeks to destroy our way of life in western culture, and is committed heart, mind, and soul to our destruction.
I'm afraid that many Americans will not fully grasp this until that day when they succeed in another, much greater form of 911.

#8132692

Laura E. Swan November 15, 2009

This is a deep and moving thread. I'd like to add that my young, sweet, inexperienced nephew is in Germany right now training for the front lines infantry and will be transfered to Afghanistan when he is fully trained. He seems happy. He says the food is good and his muscles are getting really huge. I can't even think of those two things. I wonder, when I think of him, if he will survive. Physically and mentally.

Either way, I'm really proud of he and all who have and are serving. I think of past and present POW's, too, and my heart especially breaks for them.

Thanks for this place to allow us to talk, Tess. Tears here.

-Laura #8133169

Tess L. Yee November 15, 2009

Thank you for the kind comments Carrie, Tammy, Ann, Nancy, Howard, and Laura.

In particular, I agree with Howard about the threat from radical Islamic fundamentalism. My call to judge from knowledge and understanding was meant to remind us that not all who appear to be the enemy (those of Middle Eastern descent), are the enemy (those who subscribe to certain radical ideals).

Laura, my thoughts go out to your nephew (and family), as it is never easy to watch someone go off to war. #8133748

Diane Pozel Kavanagh November 16, 2009

Love this shot...everything about it is awesome...and the words you wrote were inspiring...God Bless all who have served, are serving or plan to...without you I would not have the freedoms I have...my son just got out of the military and we are so happy to have him home... #8135376

Ujjwal Mukherjee November 16, 2009

Wonderful perspective, an excellent image,Tess!! #8135444

Mark Dodge November 16, 2009

Brings back memories, Tess. You've really touched my heart with this and brought tears to my eyes. Thank you from a deep place for remembering and for taking the time to create such a beautiful dedication. You're a wonderful person with a very kind soul.

Thank you :o) #8135976

John Connolly November 16, 2009

A wonderful Remembrance Day Image and text, Tess!

I still have my 3.2Mp Olympus camera I bought back in 2003, it still works well and I give it a run every now and again, it does some things my 8Mp camera has trouble with! #8136619

Kathy Reeves November 18, 2009

Gorgeous image and words that touched my soul!! #8141133

Tess L. Yee November 18, 2009

Heartfelt appreciation for the wonderful comments Diane, Ujjwal, Mark, John, and Kathy.

Congrats on having your son back home, Diane...enjoy this extra special holiday season!

Indeed, John...my old camera will still take a decent photo!

You are most welcome, Mark. #8141204

Ellen Hodges November 19, 2009

Wonderful capture and dedication, Tess! #8144558

Marilyn K. Lincecum November 19, 2009

A beautiful image and dedication to all who have served. #8145923

Tess L. Yee December 01, 2009

Thank you for leaving such nice comments, Ellen & Marilyn! #8181825

Robert R. Goodman March 12, 2010

Hi Tess,That is a beautiful dedication.Outstanding capture of that old battleship,so very few are left!!!!! #8449995

Eric W. Miller March 24, 2010

Hi Tess,
I was going through your portfolio after you commented on my P-51 photo. This photo caught my eye and I really appreciate your Veteran's Day dedication. My father was a Pearl Harbor Survivor. He passed away in 2000 and my brother and I took his ashes back to Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 2000. We still stay active with the local Pearl Harbor Survivors. They will be history soon. It is so important to keep their memory alive. I have some photos in my gallery of some of the Pearl events we attend.
-Eric #8478816

Tess L. Yee March 26, 2010

Thank you for the very kind comments, Bobby and Eric.

It's important to remember the past, and those who served our nation. #8482041

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