The Awakening National Harbor

Our last Shutterbug Excursion took us to National Harbor. I never thought I'd volunteer to go anywhere at dawn on a weekend, but there we all were...at Prince George's County's latest destination. National Harbor is home to a statue called The Awakening....a 100-foot depiction of a giant embedded in the earth struggling to free himself. Great photo opportunity for early morning shutterbugs. See the photos.

His name was Justin

This morning, I visited Arlington National Cemetery for a Veteran’s Day excursion. Section 60 of the cemetery has been designated as the final resting place for all those who died in Iraq, and we spent a good deal of our time just talking with family members who were there to remember their loved ones.

No matter how many times you confront these sacrifices in a personal way, it is always moving. I was touched by a 5-year-old girl and her 11-year-old brother who were there to see their dad. Surprisingly, the young boy spoke of his father with more pride than sadness.

Most memorable was the mother of Army Spc. Justin Rollins. She covered the range of emotions in our conversation -- from beaming with pride for his sacrifice, to remembering his many antics with laughter, to crumbling into tears recalling that yesterday was his birthday. Justin was an 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper and infantryman who was killed by an IED humvee explosion three weeks before he was scheduled to go home and planned to propose to his long-time girlfriend.

In the stories of these strangers, the meaning of Veteran’s Day came to life. I thanked his mom, Rhonda, and the many families in Section 60 for their sacrifice, I’d also like to thank all those who served our nation and paid the ultimate price. See the photos.

More about Justin

Arlington National Cemetery

Our Shutterbug Excursions took on Arlington National Cemetery. We spent the better part of the afternoon weaving through graves, past the John F. Kennedy grave site, up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It's always a moving experience. See the photos.

Meetup: Annapolis

In a moment of idleness, I signed on to Meetup.com and started a group called Shutterbug Excursions. I was looking for a creative outlet for my photography and like minded people to share the experience. The concept simply was to arrange short tours for a group of photographers. We would all go out and have fun shooting the same location. Later we upload our pictures and see the unique perspectives of each photographer.

Our first excursion took us to the Annapolis Harbor and was an even better experience than I ever imagined. About eight of us took on the Harbor and the US Naval Academy next door. We did well until a hail storm forced inside for cover. In all, a great experience. We’ve got future excursions scheduled to New York City, Shenandoah National Park, and Baltimore’s Green Mount Cemetery. See the photos.