Remembering

[Lizardqing]

While on a hike this weekend on the AT the Scouts took time last night to reflect on those were lost on 9-11 which most were not old enough to realize the true impact it would have on their lives at the time. Afterwards they retired two flags honorably.

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Awesome Image. Thanks for sharing.

[theantiquetiger]

Moving image!!!!

I was wondering since there are no writing on the t-shirts of the boys or any thing that would show the reversal, could we see a mirror image, putting the union of the flag to the left. I know the boys have it hanging to where they are looking at it correctly, but it just seems strange this way.

You state under you info "Please ask before editing my photos". I did a simple mirror of your photo on my phone and it is much stronger (IMO). I will not post it for respect to you and your image, but you may want to see for yourself.

Do you have any images of the flag burning ceremony itself? I would love to see one of those.

[Lizardqing]

I can see what you are saying.

I have some of the retirement as well in this flickr set.
Troop 303 Hightower Gap to Woody Gap Hike - a set on Flickr

[theantiquetiger]

Thanks, I think the mirror makes the image even more powerful.

Great Image!!!

[theantiquetiger]

I was looking through your Flickr of the hike. The boy standing on the ridge with Ole Glory, looking out over the valley is beautiful. It reminds me of the Marines raising the flag over Iwo Jima (do you know that image was staged? They missed the initial flag raising, so the re-inacted it moments later).

I am very patriotic, a veteran of the first Gulf War in 1991. Would you believe I teared up alittle when you posted the mirror image above.

[JAS_Photo]

Wonderful, poignant shot Lizard.

[Lizardqing]

Thanks again.

That was my son on the edge of the mountain. He wound up carrying the flag up the trail last and was hanging out on the wall and made a great shot.

Actually the only Iwo photo that was staged was the group shot after the second raising. The first raising was actually photographed by Louis R. Lowery who shot for Leatherneck Magazine. The flag was small though and one of the commanding officers found a bigger flag and wanted it raised so everyone would be able to see it. Joe Rosenthal and a film cameraman went up with the guys and he just happened to hit the shutter at the right time and did not even think he got the photo. Right afterwards he took the group shot at the base of the second flag and that was the photo he thought was the great one editors reffered to when they asked him if he staged it and he said yes. He spent the rest of his life defending the accusation that the flag raising was staged over a simple misunderstanding, to bad he did not have digital and could see what he got after shooting!