The ? of Balance

After he had journeyed - his feet were sore
and he was tried - as he came upon an orange grove
he rested and laid in the cool
and while he rested, he took to himself and orange
and tasted it and it was good
he felt the earth to his spine
and he asked, and he saw the tree above him, and the stars
and the veins in the leaf, and the light and the balance
and he knew who he was.

so just open your eyes and realize the way it's always been
just open your mind and you will find the way it's always been
just open your heart fore that's a start


he thought of those who he angered - for he was not a violent man
and he thought of those he hurt - for he was not a cruel man
and then he thought of those he had frighten - for he was not an evil man
and he understood, he understood himself

upon this he saw that when he was of anger or knew hurt or felt fear
it was because he was not understanding
so he learned of compassion
and with his eye of compassion
he saw his enemies like unto himself
and as he learned to love he then was answered

so just open your eyes to see who I am
and to see what I'd seen
just open your mind to see who I've always been

many thanks to Ray Thomas and Graham Edge for putting me into such kind words, long live the Moodies.

The REAL me for those asking to see the man behind the vision.

Just an American

The evening of September 11th 2001 I had to go to work, we were the only place open on Rockville Pike. On my drive in this is what I wrote. When most people meet me they say that I don't look my age which back then was 42. What they do see is blonde hair, blue eyes and a boyish smile. What most have not seen is:
A 4 year old watching JFK get shot in Dallas
A 5 year old boy going to his first I'm An American Day Parade
A six year old first grader saying the Pledge of Allegiance for the 1st time
A chubby 8 year old wearing his brand new Cub Scout uniform
A 9 year old shedding tears as we stand by the train tracks as RFK's body passes our town onto Washington, as MLK's dreams are shattered but not dimmed by a single bullet.
A ten year old doing a report on the Eagle's landing on the moon
A 16 year old getting mom to sew his citizenship merit badge on his worn out Boy Scout uniform
A 28 year old baseball fan getting goose bumps during the National Anthem
A 42 year old numb, angry and teary eyed but proud man after the events that took place on this day.
If you have seen this in me then you know that I'm just an American.

9/11/01

My dad was a Baltimore City firefighter for over 28 years and my brother Bill is still on the Baltimore City Police force serving as a Homicide Detective, so I felt that I needed to go to New York to pay my respects to those who died without knowing and to those who gave up their life so others may live. I needed to thank and shake the hands of those who were digging in the massive rubble of the twin towers. The same hands that were trying to find and bring out our friends, family and neighboring Americans alive or dead.
I captured the images of death, destruction, pain, sorrow, respect, faith, joy, honor, trust, fear, patriotism, strength, remembrance, and helplessness.
As I walked the streets, I noticed that they were still covered with debris and dust. I then realized that I was walking amongst the dead, my shoes and pants covered with the incinerated hearts and souls of those who perished only a week earlier.
It's hard to believe that this September 11th will be the 5th anniversary of the tragic events that took place back in 01. Unlike most anniversary's this one will not be a happy one, no cake cutting, and no dancing. But it will be one of remembrance, sharing memories and feeling the spirits of those years past. As a Nation we made a promise that we would never forget, I have not - have you?

This was the first shot of the destruction that I captured. Ground Zero 9/18/01 9am.

Even though it's not politically correct we still need God to Bless America... There is power in pray. Ground Zero 9/18/01

When I returned home from New York on the 19th and started viewing the images captured this one and a few like it reminded me of a song that my boys released as their first American single in 1967. That song: New York Mining Disaster 1941. It goes like this.
In the event of something happening to me
There is something I would like you all to see
It's just a photograph of someone that I knew
Have you seen my wife Mr. Jones?
Do you know what it's like on the outside?
Don't go talking too loud, you'll cause a land slide, Mr. Jones
I keep straining my ears to hear a sound
Maybe someone is digging underground
or have they given up and all gone home to bed
thinking those who once existed must be dead?

Sometimes you don't know what you see until the film comes back, this girl is looking right at me. We did look lost this day, 9/18/01.

September 18th 2001

September 18th 2001

I could not name this one. Thanksgiving Day 01
I do remember when Jess saw this view of the destruction and the cemetery of St. Pauls she realized that life is precious.

I could not give this one a title. Thanksgiving Day 01

"Healing Hands" Thanksgiving Day 01, this is one of the images selected for the "Here is New York" exhibit

"Sadness Prevails" Ground Zero 9/11/02

"Remembrance"Ground Zero 9/11/03

"Proud in New York" Ground Zero 9/11/04

"The Spirit Remains" 9/11/04

"Farewell To A Fallen Hero" 2000
This image was captured at the funeral of Maryland State Police Corporal Edward M. Toatley. He was a 16 year veteran, a husband and the father of 3 children ages 18 months, 5 and 18 years old. At the age of thirty seven he was killed during a drug raid, his killer was caught in New York city 2 weeks after the shooting. Other funerals that I have captured were:
Baltimore City Police Officer Crystal Deneen Sheffield - killed in the line of duty in an automobile accident. She was a 3 veteran leaving behind her husband and 11 year old son, she was the first female officer killed in the line of duty. 8/22/02
Maryland State Trooper 1st Class Anthony Jones - killed in the line of duty on 5/9/04 by a drunk driver while helping a disabled motorist on Rt 50. Trooper Jones left behind his wife and two daughters. He was a 6 year veteran.
Baltimore Police Officer Brian Donte Winder - a 10 year veteran was shot and killed by a man who he had arrested one week earlier, Brian left behind his wife, two sons and a stepdaughter. 7/3/04
This part of me blog is dedicated to all of our Peace Officers nation wide and a special dedication to my brother Bill who has been on the Baltimore City Police force for over 28 years, the past 12 serving as a Homicide Detective. He was nominated in 2002 for Police Officer of the Year, which was awesome because our dad was Firefighter of the Year in 1972.
The Farewell print has been produced as an limited edition with #1 hanging in the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial office in Washington, DC. Proceeds are donated to that memorial fund. Visit their website at: www.nleomf.com

Finally

The World War 2 memorial was finally dedicated to the more then 16 million who served, the over 400,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice and to the citizens who joined together as one United Nation 60 years after the wars end. Sadly 100's of thousands of those who served had past before they were able to see the memorial and be remembered for their efforts. The memorial sits between the Washington & Lincoln memorials on the mall. There is the rainbow pool, the field of gold stars, and 54 pillars that represent the 50 states and her territories. It tells the stories of those who served in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters, the battles they fought, won and lost. It's where on D-Day 2005 I learned that you can walk up to a stranger, extend a hand and say only two words, that you can experience the most humblest of feelings. Those words: Thank You. Try it sometime you'll see and feel what I mean. Peace and God Bless all men and women who served and who continue to serve our nation today. This page is dedicated to my Uncle's - Jerry(Marines), Ernie(Army, Joe(Air Force) and Norm(Army) Purple Heart recipient.

"Peaceful Morning"
Sunrise, D-Day 2005, the World War 2 Memorial, Washington DC.

"the Rising #2" 2005
may she wave and fly forever

The fight for FREEDOM in Korea

The conflict began on Mom's birthday, June 25th 1950 and ended 3 years later when a treaty was signed on July 27th, 1953. Pres. Truman ordered General Dougy Macarthur to prepare troops for deployment on June 27th 1950. The war ended with 36,516 American families with loved ones not returning. And many more to heal the wounds left on the hearts and souls from yet another war that many of these brave soldiers of Freedom fought for during WW2. The Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC was ordered on 10/28/86 and was dedicated by Pres.'s Clinton and Kim Young Sam of S. Korea on July 27th 1995. The 19 soldiers stand at 7'3" tall and consist of 14 members of the Army, 3 Marines, 1 Sailor and 1 Airman, there are 12 Caucasians, 2 Afro-Americans, 2 Hispanics, 1 Asian-American, and 1 Native American. The mural is 164 feet long and consists of over 2,400 images that look straight out at the column as it exits the woods. The Academy Black Granites reflective quality shows 38 soldiers which is symbolic of the 38th Parallel and also of the 38 months of war. Visit the memorials web site at www.nab.usace.army.mil/projects/washingtonDC/korean.hyml

"Korean Reflections" 2005

"Listen"