I grew up in an area that did not have military installations. We didn’t see military personnel in our daily lives. We only saw them on special occasions such as Veteran’s Day, as the occasional “special guest” who would share their war experiences at school, or on television. In the Tidewater region of Virginia, we have many bases representing all branches of the service. Military service members are part of our daily lives, and we feel tremendous respect for each of them. I am always amazed by military service members. They and their families selflessly give so much of themselves for our country, and their dedication is inspirational. I couldn’t help but think as I was walking around photographing all the activity before the race that I was walking among heroes. These heroes have traveled a journey filled with sacrifice and hard work within our borders and beyond.
I had the pleasure of photographing the SCFE Warrior Color Run at Fort Eustis last week, which gave me an opportunity to serve as the official event photographer. As soon as I pulled up to the parking lot next to Anderson Arena at Fort Eustis, the excitement was palpable! The D.J. was playing energetic music, the sun was coming up, race participants were arriving, and I could just tell that it was going to be a spectacular day! The event started with a presentation of the colors, accompanied by a beautifully sung National Anthem. Following a brief presentation by Colonel Clayton, the Combat Vets (Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association) majestically led the runners at the start on their motorcycles. Next, the race began! It was such a joy to see all ages running and walking, and enthusiastically running through the color stations, getting splashed with red and blue, then running to the next station. There was even a small furry participant who braved the color stations! All in all, it was a successful event full of color and fun.
