Operation Love

Some of you may have already seen via Facebook- but Mark and I got a wonderful opportunity to take part in a program called Operation Love Reunited (www.oplove.org) over his R&R. The program is made up of photographers all around the country who volunteer their time and donate a photo album from your photo session that they send downrange to the deployed soldier. Typically the album consists of twenty five 4x6 photos. The program is open to any military soldier who is deployed. Photos are typically taken either at departure, R&R, or homecoming. Here is how the website describes their program.

If you have ever been through a military deployment, there are no words to explain how hard it is to send the father or mother of your children off to some foreign, dangerous land, leaving you all behind…. Alone. It’s indescribable to watch their faces light up as their mother or father comes up the stairs of the airport after months, possibly a year or more, of not hugging each other. Emotions fly through the main lobby, it’s so very good to have them home. Your base’s Family Support Squadron will help you with your deployment. But the last thing on your mind when your wife or husband arrives home after a 4 to 18 month tour, is capturing all this love– on film. Most people are so overwhelmed with emotions they forget to simply point and shoot the camera they are grasping of their child’s first hug, or that single tear of relief from a mother being able to hold her twenty year old son again. With the help of Operation: Love ReUnited and local photographers near your base, you can.

The Operation helps those long months go by a little faster. It’s designed to capture moments that you will never remember. It’s art. It’s love. And it’s all made possible by artists wanting to give something back to those who make the United States what it is, and ask for nothing in return- but to come home.

Please if you know of any other deployed families forward them the program website. It was a wonderful and truly touching experience for both Mark and I. Below you can see some of the photos that were taken through this wonderful program by Jeffrey Ott (who was awesome!).

Enjoy- Love,

Angie