Back in September, when our guys came home from deployment, I was asked to photograph reunions with husbands, dads, and heroes. What a privilege photographing a deployment homecoming was. These people are like family to me – no, they are family to me – after months of endless difficult days, we were finally getting our boys back.
I was looking through my pictures for a photography project that I’m working on and I can’t resist sharing the moments I captured (with permission) and all the happiness that surrounded me on that incredible day. Pure, raw emotion.
The manner was happy. Faces wore beautiful smiles.
Eager eyes searched the ramp as the jets rolled in and parked.
The wait was over. We survived.
One by one canopies raised and pilots removed their helmets, searching the crowd.
Wives, sons, daughters, and friends were spotted.
This morning, they were in the desert.
They left the war and all that happened behind.
Hearts swelled, tears fell, emotions were jumbled.
All that mattered now was coming home.
From behind my camera, I fell to pieces.
Because this is what I saw through the viewfinder:
Coming home, where the heart is.
They at last had come home.
THANK YOU to all the men and women who CHOOSE to step up and defend this country and also to the families who support them!
Janelle Vannice says
LOVE this post! And it definitely made me cry before leaving for work.
Mary Ellen says
Awesome post! Loved it!!
Carrie says
Beautiful photos and words Emily! Thank you for these memories!
Carrie says
Beautiful photos and words Emily! Thank you for reminding me of these awesome moments!
kristen says
Such a beautiful post! Put tears in my eyes.. After surviving a 6 month deployment this brought back so many emotions, you captured the emotion beautifully!