PART ONE: TOG on a Mission – 2010
Here’s a more in-depth look at the making and background of the calendar – “The Old Guard on Mission – 2010″ – some history and little known facts…
Мерры Чристмас !
Or for those who cannot read Russian Cyrillic -
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Posted 2 months ago at 10:03 pm. 4 comments
2010 Old Guard Calendar is…
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…
Posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago at 4:24 pm. Add a comment
226 Years Ago Today – First Purple Heart Awarded
Sgt. Eli Churchill of Enfield, Connecticut, was the FIRST AMERICAN awarded the “Badge of Military Merit” by the Continental Army’s General George Washington, on May 3rd 1783
The Badge would later evolve into the Purple Heart which is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after 05 APR 1917
Posted 10 months, 1 week ago at 8:25 am. Add a comment
Ranked 89,866 – There’s only one way … UP!
It’s now officially published AND purchased!
The MOST UNIQUE CALENDAR FOR 2009!
The first sales happened one day after it was released to the public. Since 2000, I’ve been blessed to be able to photograph and capture in photograph form one of the amazing units in the US ARMY, 3d Infantry Regiment – The OLD GUARD. Not only are they amazing, the regiment is the oldest unit in the United States Military having it’s origins set in 1784.
After going through all the photos from these past years and with the assistance of TOG’s public affairs, I selected a set of photos that gives a glimpse of military pagentry and ceremony at its finest.
Proceeds from the sale of this calendar will be donated to the 3d Infantry Regiment’s Old Guard Ladies Association. The collage of photos above shows a sample of the photos that are in the calendar. Proceeds from the online sales will be donated to the 3d Infantry Regiment’s OLD GUARD LADIES ASSOCIATION.
Just click on the button below and you’ll see ALL the photos and BUY MANY OF THEM!
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 9:24 am. Add a comment
FLAGS IN — Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery
Traditionally, Memorial Day was 30 MAY – but the day has been designated as the last Monday in May — Each year, led by 3d Infantry Regiment – The OLD GUARD, and other military located in the Washington DC area, Arlington National Cemetery is transformed into an honor for all those who lay at rest there – with a small United States of America flag placed in front of the headstone.
It begins on late Thursday afternoon – The transformation takes only a few hours, and the flags stay in all weekend and are mystically gone by early Tuesday morning. A very respectful way of honoring those who have served to keep the freedoms that those in the United States enjoy.
To all the active duty troops, veterans and those who have served…
Thank you for your service!
Posted 1 year, 9 months ago at 5:36 am. 1 comment
Remembering…
Here’s a tribute to those who’s final honors that I photographed at Arlington National Cemetery during 2007 – it’s because of their service, that I can do what I do … many people in the United States take those things for granted and go on their merry way — oblivious to the sacrifices that those who serve and have served have made for me and for them.
Among others, a special Thank you to —
COL Robert Friedman USA Ret
SGM Joseph Mancuso USA Ret
SGT William E. Skivington, Jr USA KIA
COL Daniel Patrick Gallagher USA Ret
TEC4 Anthony De Angelis USA Ret
SGM Robert Hede USA Ret
COL Robert Costa USA Ret
CW3 Donald R. Sistare USA Ret
COL Albert A. DeProspero USA Ret
LTC Williams S. Martin
LTC Williams S. Martin
Posted 2 years, 2 months ago at 11:13 pm. Add a comment
2007 – the year in review..
From a personal standpoint, it has been a very chaotic, but productive year for me. Despite the “move” from my apartment remodeling, I’ve captured another 10,000-plus photos, attended and preserved the memories of over a dozen final honors at Arlington National Cemetery; extended the line of heraldry cards to encompass many other US Army divisions, regiments and even added the US Coast Guard with a surprise present I gave to a friend for Christmas.
My website still languishes with many critical that I should make it easier to navigate and buy things from … all I can say … “I’m working on it…”
The thanks I’ve received from the families who have received the ANC Memorial Book of their loved one’s final honors has been overly gratifying. I reflected back to 2005 when I took over the full production of what has become as one of my advisors has said “an art form“
Since June, I have been following and researching the Presidential Salute Battery of the 3d Infantry Regiment, one of the elite platoons in this … “The Old Guard”
In my ever on-going mission to learn as much as I can about the history, the impact and significance of the military, I’ve constantly scoured the Internet and read the accounts of different units and the heroes in them. In 2005, I photographed the final honors of a Major General – a “two star” and it was only recently I realized how his career crossed many paths and avenues I’ve recently explored.
Many of you reading this don’t know what a coastal artillery fort is, but they lined the US Coasts built by the US Army to defend America long ago. Although there were 200 of them planned, because of the outbreak of the Civil Way, only 30 were constructed. Many of them still serve in manners that honor their past. For instance … look at the base of the Statue of Liberty … it’s a coastal artillery fort.
Other notable ones are – Fort Sumter, Charleston South Carolina, Fort McHenry in the Baltimore Harbor, Fortress Monroe – Hampton Virginia (engineered by Robert E. Lee – but I was informed by a Civil War re-enactor “that was not my first work!”) Fort Pulaski, near Savannah Georgia (that was his first work! Made from red brick, it still has some of the indentations where the cannonballs hit during the Civil War. The Southeast corner where the wall was breached by Union rifled-cannon has been replaced/repaired- see below. Robert E. Lee also supervised the construction of Fort Carroll in Maryland) .
Posted 2 years, 2 months ago at 11:00 pm. Add a comment
Support our Troops!
About a year ago, I discovered Any Soldier http://www.anysoldier.com/ a website where one can find a way to “give back” and provide something special to those in our US military who are deployed away from their loved ones and defending the freedoms we enjoy here in the United States.
I created a rather large package that I sent to a unit of the 82d Airborne Division to help them reach back to those they love and express their sentiments of this time of year. Perhaps you might be a lucky one to receive something from that package.
Posted 2 years, 2 months ago at 6:37 am. Add a comment
Latest JFK Meets BG Wm P. Yarborough
If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ll recall that I’ve recently sent out a mailing of over 300 solicitations / invites for personalized notecards, Christmas cards and the JFK meets BG Wm P. Yarborough.
The phone rang this morning and a voice at the other end asked if I could produce a different version of the collage with the description of what appears on the back of the card appearing where it could be read….
This is my initial and latest take on it
Just an FYI, the response from the mailing has been “minimal” but encouraging — perhaps they’re also accounting for the beginning of the growing red dots on the map — (see the earlier post about Clustr Maps)
