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This picture of the week is a very special picture of the week. Rather than make you read through the immense back story of this photo, I will give you two stories, the short version, and the long version. I hope that the short version is compelling enough for you to read the long version. I also hope the short version persuades you to give to a good cause.
The Short Version
On June 14 of this year, Army Spc. Josh Sommers was critically wounded in Afghanistan when his vehicle was hit by shrapnel. He is slowly making progress, and his family has been by his side for the duration of his recovery.
His younger sister is about to enter college, and is in need of a laptop computer for her courses. Obviously, the family is under immense financial strain at this time.
To alleviate this pressure, I am taking all profits from the sale of the above print and giving it directly to the Sommers family to help cover the cost of the laptop. The price of the print is only $10 plus shipping. You may order the print by clicking directly on it, and clicking the “buy” button on that site.
I hope to raise enough this week to purchase such a laptop. I will be sending the funds directly to the family in the form of a check. I would also hope that you might pass this on to friends and family to spread the word.
If you would like to read more:
The Long Version
I have known Lisa Sommers, Josh’s mother, for 18 years. I have known her kids, Josh and Julie since they were still making cootie catchers in gradeschool. I have seen them grow from kids visiting the office on ‘bring your son/daughter to work day’ into vibrant young people. I photographed their senior portraits as they graduated high school and had to face the grown up world.
I shared in their triumphs and tragedies as a listener before I had my own kids, and wondered what it would be like when I had finally got around to having my own. I marveled as the Sommers kids grew and become independent people.
As a younger person, I had no real views of war. I had a vague idea of what it was all about through listening to the stories my family told around kitchen tables late at night. I knew from the veterans in my family that they did what they were called to do, and did so selflessly.
I am now much older. I am now seeing the other side of 40. I have children of my own. The little girl in the photograph is my daughter; Audrey Paloma Melero Ruiz. I now understand how much of her safety and comfort I owe to guys like Josh. Guys who selflessly put themselves on the line so that we can continue to live our lives unhindered stateside. I also understand that these children, the ones we would die to protect, are also the currency in the war.
No longer are the soldiers fighting abroad my peers. They are are my children. They are our children. As my kids sleep soundly in their beds each night, I know that there are parents out there who are not as lucky. They can only hope that their children , our soldiers, are safe. I can only hope too that they are safe, so far away. Soldiers keeping watch from afar over my children as they sleep.
All that being said. I can’t possibly sleep at night knowing that one of our own is in need, and we can all pitch in and help. So, this is how I have decided to do what I can. Rather than ask people for donations, I have decided to actually give you a little something for your trouble.
For those who know Josh and Julie, I hope you can take just a few minutes to make a big difference. For those who found this by sheer happenstance, I hope you value the sacrifice our families are making.
