Here!
John Michael broke new ground when he published the “First” Calendar about the US Army’s 3d Infantry Regiment – “The Old Guard on Parade – 2009″ - The Escort to the President. Many have seen this regiment earlier this year as they led and participated in the Presidential Inauguration. Their ceremonial presence is only part of their story. After pouring through thousands of photographs taken primarily in 2009, a theme finally emerged to tell the story about these Soldiers that few people ever see.
Soldiers in this elite regiment are called upon to do a number of different missions on a daily basis… most of which the public never sees or is even aware. It’s hoped that the selection of these images provides a small glimpse of the varied assignments carried out and their contributions made as service to the United States of America…
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GHTime Code(s): fb978 b5a78 bb516 1604c Posted 2 years, 5 months ago at 4:24 pm. Add a comment
12 December 2009 – It was “Wreaths Across America day on Saturday and 15,000 wreaths were placed on several sections of Arlington National Cemetery. I spent a few hours at Arlington National Cemetery after all the crowds were gone from the morning’s event.
And as I reflected walking among those tribute bedecked stones of the contribution of these who have served, I thought of something that was recently sent to me by one of my Special Forces friends… I thought I’d share it with you.
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GHTime Code(s): 78126 9d73f Posted 2 years, 5 months ago at 1:32 pm. 1 comment
Earlier in 2009, John Michael was honored to have a selection of photographic notecards from his work in
Arlington National Cemetery to be featured at the giftshop at the cemetery. They’ve sold well and another shipment will be heading there this week…
Posted 2 years, 5 months ago at 2:32 am. 1 comment
On Saturday 10 OCT, Honor Air Louisiana will be transporting another group of “the Greatest Generation” for a day in Washington DC to see the WW II Memorial among others and pay a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. The group sponsoring this wonderful visit has been in operation for a while and this will be their 19th trip since inception.
Their escort for the day is a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers…
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GHTime Code(s): f9a6f 3b584 Posted 2 years, 7 months ago at 11:59 pm. Add a comment
It’s been a long time coming to get this presentation of my work on the Internet. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without some great help from my new “webmaster”
Thank you Andrew!
We’ve “launched” but as they say, nothing is ever finished — especially on the Internet. Explore, push the buttons, links, and poke around, I’m sure you’ll find something to intrigue, educate, provoke, delight and more… you may also find something you’d like to purchase from the Gallery, or the Products Sections.
If your need is to capture an upcoming Arlington National Cemetery Final Honors for a loved one, then please check out the ANC Final Honors Page.
The Gallery will have many more photos coming online in the next weeks. So check back often. If you’re on my Twittery or Facebook Network. You’ll see a posting when there’s a new blog entry.
Coming soon - A MEMBERS ONLY Section - Please watch the postings on Twitter or Facebook.
The key thing is, if you want me to do more (and I want to since it really needs to be done), I need your support, whether it’s choosing a selection to purchase or telling your Network of family and friends about this site.
Did you know that I can create personalized notecards from most any of the photographs you see in the gallery … just email me.
Thanks for helping me on my mission of
“Preserving the memories so others will remember”™
GHTime Code(s): 98652 f328d 99de6 8569e 84a8a 8c1c4 Posted 2 years, 7 months ago at 12:37 am. 1 comment
“Scenes of Arlington National Cemetery” from Photography by John Michael – a note card collection of outstanding photographs that take you through a small part of this National United States’ shrine – are now on sale at the cemetery’s giftshop.
From the thousands of photographs captured by this military heraldrist and historian, a collection was created to portray the dignity, solemnity and beauty of this US shrine to the heroes and those who have fought to keep freedom free.Such historic views as the McClelland Gate – the original entrance to the cemetery, The Lee House/Arlington House – original homestead of Robert E. Lee, are complemented by scenic views of US Army 3d Infantry Regiment as they execute their missions of taking those who have served to their final resting place. Classic scenes such as the Tomb of the Unknowns are also part of the collection.
John Michael, a Washington DC based photographer is known world-wide for his work in photographing the final honors of those who have served in the United States armed forces.
(From a Press Release – JULY 28, 2009)
Posted 2 years, 10 months ago at 7:56 am. Add a comment
The US Army celebrated its
234th birthday on 14 JUN 2009…
One of the most solemn and dignified ceremonies occurred in Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on that morning…
a full honors wreath ceremony
placed by
the Secretary of the Army, Honorable Pete Geren,
Chief of Staff of the Army, General George W. Casey Jr.
and
Sergeant Major of the Army, SMA Kenneth Preston.
Hosted by Commanding General of the Military District of Washington, Major General Richard J. Rowe Jr, the full honors included:
a complement of The US Army’s 3d Infantry -
The Old Guard,
The US Army Band, Pershing’s Own
and
Color Guard.
After the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, General Casey and Sergeant Major Preston visited each of the 24 former Chiefs of Staff and 2 Sergeants Major of the Army’s final resting places and placed a wreath in honor of their service to the United States of America.
General of the Armies & Former Chief of Staff General John J. Pershing’s gravesite
Posted 2 years, 11 months ago at 9:59 pm. Add a comment
Over the years, Arlington National Cemetery has become a very special place to me. I have spent countless hours exploring, learning and capturing in photographic memories some of the significance, the solemnity, the beauty of this National Shrine to those who have given so much.
Few days stand out as much as Memorial Day, for it is over that weekend that the US Army’s 3d Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard once again goes above and beyond by placing the US colors one boot length away in front of every grave stone in the cemetery.
Normally on this day, I’ll wait ’til after the formal ceremonies are over and movement around the cemetery is a bit easier as the President has left. This year, I was determined to actively participate and made it into the amphitheater near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The sun was hot, but hidden by clouds most of the time, that later gave up some of their rain to add a bit of liquid sunshine to the day…
Off in the distance, the Presidential Salute Battery began firing the 21 Gun Salute, announcing the arrival of the President. So many times I’ve watched up close and personal the precise way that they execute their mission I could see in my mind’s eye, the watchman of the Battery calling each gun at precise 3 second intervals as each salute echoed through the hills of the cemetery.
One could then hear the commanders of the multi service honor guard call their troops to attention as the President approached the Tomb of the Unknown
After laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, followed by a moment of silence, The bugler from the US Army’s Band – Pershing’s Own sounded Taps. Those 21 notes echoing among the open air of the moment.
President came into the amphitheater, preceded by the US Army Chaplain, Superintendent of of Arlington National Cemetery, Commanding General of the Military District of Washington and the Head of the Joint Chiefs’ of Staff.
The President addressed the standing room only crowd and shared his thoughts with those assembled.
Afterwards, I went among those assembled and spent some time with those I knew and made some new friends among the slowly vanishing crowd. As the crowd dispersed, I began my exploring to several sections among those that had given so much. I went to Section 13 which has a great number of Unknowns…
It’s hard to describe the feelings that run through when one considers that for each of these stones, marks a contribution that always cannot be measured, or in most cases cannot be repaid.
I’ll let the photos take you there…
“Preserving the memories, so others will remember…” ™
Posted 2 years, 12 months ago at 9:16 pm. 1 comment
One of the most moving experiences is to be a part of this celebration held every year at the New Amphitheater -
Posted 3 years, 1 month ago at 10:16 am. Add a comment
I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I went to Aberdeen and the US Army Ordnance Museum… which is where we left off from the last SAW installment. I had just spent the day at Mount Vernon partially with the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard who put on a wonderful display of “revolutionary” tactics and firing their “firelocks” AND The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
The following day was spent capturing another Presidential Salute Battery mission in Arlington National Cemetery. Finally on Wednesday, 18 FEB 2009, with snow flying, I headed North to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, current home of the US Army Ordnance Museum and it’s outstanding outdoor display of armor, artillery and…
My mission there was to further uncover the role that G M Barnes played in WW II and learn what I could about the WW I artillery piece known as the “French 75″ … I learned quite a bit since the resources at this museum’s library are extensive.
But let me back up a bit. Arriving on post for the first time I was unsure how to get to the museum (I need a GPS – donations welcome!) I slowly went by this large large – HUGE actually mortar that several people would slip inside the tube with no problem and then missed the turn for the museum’s entrance, but was given a shot of “ordnance eye candy” as I circled the outside collection. WOW, what a sight!
When I finally got around to the entrance of the museum building, I was pleasantly surprised to find an M5 out in front “guarding” the museum. It was painted its tactical color and was complete with the sights that were used to aim this gun. Despite the precipitation, which by this time had turned from frozen into liquid, I got the camera out and captured a few photographs before going inside.
Once inside, I was pleasantly greeted by a staff member and then taken t
o the library where I was showered with attention to my requests. I spent the morning going over the provided materials and relishing in the information that I was gleaning from these treasured tomes. The door I opened again leading me to at least 6 more for me to check behind. Seems that the French 75 was a rather remarkable artillery piece for its time and was a very impressive that GEN Pershing ordered the fired the first round (and 9,999 more) to be packed up and sent back to the United States. Its place of honor after being paraded around to show the American people what we had done is at the US Military Academy – West Point Museum in New York
To be continued….
Posted 3 years, 2 months ago at 12:13 pm. Add a comment
