On Thanksgiving morning I set my alarm extra early…but not to fire up a turkey or start the stuffing (that would come later). I snuck out of the house and hit Starbucks for a little wake-up call, then headed to the airport with my friend so we could welcome home a sweet baby from Vietnam. She and her family were arriving a few days early, and her arrival was a Must Photograph event.
We walked into the International Arrival area of DFW and were met by hordes of people waving flags and cheering as music blared and soldiers returned home from overseas. It was amazing to witness. This father peeking under the blanket that covered his son’s carseat, to peek at his baby’s face for the very first time. These soldiers coming home to a welcome like I have never seen before. Incredible. I had chills. And tears. And am oh so thankful that I was able to witness this sight.
6 Comments
Wonderful photos of something every American should be thankful for…Thank you for sharing-I would have loved to have been there to see it! I know the families as well as the soldiers appreciated the being “thanked”.
Tracy
Army Wife
Oh the goosebumps!!!
Thank you for these awesome pics of our heroes. My husband is currently deployed to Iraq for the first time as an Army Chaplain. These pics hit home for me b/c I so anxiously await the day that someone is able to capture this moment for me. I would LOVE, love, love if that someone was you, by the way!!! Thanks again for capturing a priceless moment and sharing with us.
Amazing!!
Hi! I linked to your blog through a friend of mine from church. I was there that morning welcoming home my cousin Andrew. We had a huge crowd there with a sign that said “Welcome home Andrew.” I was actually standing next to the guy(his right) in the first photograph who had the digital camera. I was holding my son in a sling and taking pictures. Here is a link to the video the guy sent me from that morning and from when Andrew came through the gate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Ds4gN3e5k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj9owPN_7EI
It was so awesome and what a wonderful Thanksgiving. This is such a small world. I thought it was neat and wanted to share.
I am a Marine Wife and I am thankful that you were able to witness such a heartwarming event. My husband has deployed 3 times in the past 4 years we have known each other (3 years of that we have been married) Homecomings are amazing and no matter how many deployments you go through homecoming just keeps getting better and better. I too have seen Daddy’s hold their babies for the first time or toddlars running into Daddy’s arms and the tears from fathers as the last time they saw their child was just a newborn. Thanks to all our Military and again I am so happy you got to see this!! Not many get to peek into our world and I think if more did they would be more thankful for what our military does for our wonderful America!!!
My husband returned home from Afghanistan 3 mos ago and this is a link to my homecoming pictures if you have time and would like to look. I understand you are busy but just in case I figured I’d send the link.
As always your photography is absolutly amazing and I can’t ever get enough of it! THank you for sharing your talent with the world!
http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n71/marinewife0311/Afghanistan%20HOmecoming/