WELCOME HOME

(Click on the images to enlarge them)

Troop movement is all about as you are aware. Some of you are close to completing your service, and others are just starting their tour. I would like to address the men and women who are close to coming home. Just the thought of such a day can be wonderful, but it can also be a distraction. I wish you the best, but be dutiful in your diligence so that day becomes a reality. We at home at are doing our best to keep it as you left it, but that requires a lot on our part. Most Americans are hard at work everyday, as are you. We are spoiled here at home though, and only by your dedication can we be as such. No matter how gloom the news looks from over on the other side of the planet, we still have it pretty damn good over here. We sleep in soft beds with springs, sleep with our loved ones, take hot baths, eat meat marbled with fat, drink water out of pipes without slimy things, and our girl friends smell good; no matter how your buddies love you, they do not always smell good--be honest!

Even in a crowd you can be alone. You can be lonely in a crowded mall, but to tell you the truth, moreover a perspective, there are just as many in that crowd who are opportunities to make a new friend! Remember that when you come home!

Welcome Home Ceremony, Fort Carson

________***________

316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command awarded Meritorious Unit Citation!

________***________

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

MLK Holiday, my brush with history...

(CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM)

I shot these images when they were setting up the dedication ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial a few years ago in 2003. The memorial is carved right into the marble, on the exact stair where Dr. King delivered his most famous speech, “I had a dream”. I was the first non-worker to see this memorial as it was covered by a blue cloth. Park Rangers were present to guard the memorial and to prevent anyone from seeing it before the ceremony. A divine wind somehow moved the cover exposing the carved-in-stone speech, by happenstance, I just happened to be standing there. I got the shot quickly, the first one by anyone, then just as suddenly, the cover fell back down before anyone else got the shot. I went back up the stairs to the President Lincoln sculpture, and again luck was on my side. Before I could clear the area per the orders of the Park Rangers, Coretta Scott King walked out of the elevator right past me, and I got the shot that you see here. It was a quick responsive shot with no time for any adjustments or setup.

After the dedication I went downstairs to the Lincoln Memorial Museum. I met a man there who I chatted with while we watched videos of history, and photos that were on exhibit. I do not know why, his knowledge, his insight, but I just turned and asked him, "did you know Dr. King?" He looked right at me and said, "yes I did. I marched with him, and I am the last man still living that gave a speech that day with Dr. King, right there on the steps of the memorial. I am Congressman John Lewis." This took me back a little, this new and very interesting meeting by happenstance again! I started to feel that I was supposed to shoot this dedication, whether I chose to or not. I only had my rangefinder film camera at the time. My brush with history was a memorable occasion!

Coretta Scott King

Congressman John Lewis

Deep Freeze...

This week has been a continuation of the last two weeks of well below average temperatures. The whole east coast corridor has been extremely cold, Florida crops are threatened with heavy losses from this deep freeze. The Midwest has been setting record cold temperatures.

The Steelers are not in the playoffs, so sports are also slow this week.

The news has been mainly about various bills now in progress, and both sides of the issues are engaging in a manner that is not worthy to report on this night.

A slow and cold week, and I will let it go for this week. I hope to get back to more news, and interesting events next Monday!

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR PITTSBURGH STEELERS

(CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM)

The Pittsburgh Steelers, prominent football team of the NFL, died last night from complications of losing its “Eye of the Tiger”, and one game too many. The team was 77 years old. Soft spoken and obsessively focused, the Steelers never looked the part of a gridiron gentleman, but in the final game of its life, it revealed an unknown side of its psyche.

This hidden quasi-Gandhi persona surfaced during its yearlong pursuit of its old Eye of the Tiger. Sadly, their protracted search ended Sunday night, even with a victory in that game, in an embarrassingly and ugly failure! They fell short of the playoffs.

Yet, even in certain defeat, the courageous Pittsburgh Steelers secretly clung to their belief that football is not just a series of meaningless games won by accident, or by coincidence, oh no, but rather a canvas on which to paint an exquisite, and beautiful landscape. A landscape filled with the colors of victory, not for the victory of itself, but for the passion and the love of life.

Rest in peace my brothers, rest in peace…

PLEASE ENJOY THE MEMORIES THAT I HOPE MY IMAGES WILL PROVIDE OF OUR WARRIORS WHO HAVE PASSED ON TO THE LOCKER ROOM AND BEYOND!

________***________

I Know you have seen this before, but it needs repeating!
2009 Super Bowl Champs, L to R: Matt Spaeth, Rashard Medenhall, Jered Retkofsky

Big Ben, Big entrance into the Pep Rally, a mere week before winning the
SUPER BOWL!

James Harrison, who High-Fived me, a week before making his
RECORD 100 YARD INTERCEPTION AND TOUCHDOWN RUN!

The Ambassador to Ireland, and owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers,
Mr. Art Rooney

Big Ben bending a few ears!

FROM THIS POINT ON, ARE IMAGES FROM THE SUPER BOWL PARADE!
"THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES" (By Bob Hope), PITTSBURGH STEELERS!

James Harrison amongst 250,000 Gentlemen-hooligans and passionate Steelers fans!

Pittsburgh Steelers fans enjoying it while it lasted.
Nothing lasts forever, but the memories will last a lifetime!

The off field, soft spoken Troy Polomalu shows his hidden quasi-Hulk persona when the games start.

The fans love Troy, because he always plays beyond his natural gifts, and one can never question his passion for the team, the game, and for his honor. He is one of the injury losses this year that truly showed his contributions to the team, as he is indispensable!

________***________

A few more images of the 2010 Pittsburgh Polar Bear Club swim on 01-01-10

Walk on water

Elvis

________***________

Keep your head down, Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

HAPPPY NEW YEARS! POLAR BEAR SWIM 2010!

A family that jumps in together, stays together! This is one family doing the Polar Bear!

(CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM)

On the morning of this first day of 2010, Pittsburghers started the year with a leap of faith! This is the annual Polar Bear Swim in the Monongahela River that brings out those who dare to dare, and want a fresh start, a do-over if you will, in their lives. Folks from all walks of life, all ages, and various expectations arrived early to leap into the frigid January waters. This posing is about this event, so I will let the photos tell the story.

REMEMBER, this water goes straight down and deep. They are jumping from the wharf, which is where barges dock, so it has to be maintained deep. You jump into winter water and disappear!

________***________

They're Off, the fist wave of New Year daredevils attack their fears!

After the reality sets in, they all seem to say, "Help Me get out!"

This group of Marine Iraq Vets who just returned from over there, told me that while in the blistering 120 degree heat OVER there, they talked about doing this Polar Bear jump when they returned home. Here they are, Loud & Proud, Your United States Marines!

This is Christine only seconds after I pulled her out of her chilled dip in the river. Her face will tell you more.

These young folks wanted to show their support for YOU, over there!

This is Frank Nelson, a 45 year vet of this event, and the caretaker of not only the Pittsburgh Polar Bear Club, but the energy to keep the tradition going!

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

NEXT POST ON NEW YEARS DAY IN THE LATE EVENING!!!

DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, THE POSTS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE HOLIDAY DAY ITSELF... SEE YOU NEXT YEAR, JANUARY ONE!

CHRISTMAS DAY SPECIAL REPORT:

LEFT TO RIGHT: MATT SPAETH, RASHARD MENDENHALL, JERED RETOFSKY

(CLICK TO ENLARGE THE IMAGE)

A White Christmas is a reality back here at home! I hope this day finds you over there in a moment of peace amongst the chaos. May your day bring happiness and wonderful remembrance of yours back home...

SPORTS UPDATE:

Last year during our Super Bowl run, our long snapper Greg Warren injured his knee for the season. Jered Retkofsky, who worked for a moving company, replaced him. Jered earned himself a Super Bowl Ring with his outstanding play! He was cut this year; he went back to moving Americans to their new homes around the country. His Super Bowl Ring swayed many customers to select Jered and his company for their movers of choice.

On the last play of the game last week, with no time left on the Clock, Jeff Reed kicked the extra point that won the game, but bad luck struck Greg Warren again; he injured his knee again and is out for the season. Warren himself called Jered to tell him the good and the bad news. Jered's phone rang again, the Steelers calling! Just in time for Christmas Jered's income spiked, and his passion is giving him one more opportunity; not everyone gets two chances in this competitive discipline that is populated with big money and monster men.

The reason I tell you Jered's Christmas story today, is because he was so kind, along with Matt Spaeth and Rashard Mendenhall, to pose for the portrait showing their support for you the troops, moreover, the whole Pittsburgh Steelers organization expressed their support for you, the troops! I shot this portrait of these men last year in Dan Rooney's office during the Pep Rally, which was just days before they left for the Super Bowl. They all returned with the Sixth Super Bowl Trophy for this great team, SIXBURGH!

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

CHRISTMAS, Ours and Yours...

(CLICK IN IMAGES TO ENLARGE)

Christmas is a few days away, and most folks here at home are preparing to enjoy the day with family and friends. This is a luxury in life that some do not appreciate and take for granted.

The warm and cozy fire in the fireplace brings warmth to the revelers, while you over there huddle in tents, holes, and vehicles. Your situation comes without a true break. In World War Two, even at the battle of the bulge, Christmas found a way to have a truce and provide a little peace to reflect.

The malls here are full of shoppers driven to stress levels that exceeds any form of reason for such a simple pleasure, which again, is not appreciated for how much of a gift that is. The stores are full of brand new toys, gizmo's, high-tech games, and every sort of food that man can imagine. Your shopping is by mail call, and the boxes that make it in one piece, if you received one in the first place, may have great gifts from loved ones; some are from strangers who care. No matter the source, your gratitude and appreciation is more than you ever imagined for even the simplest gesture of kindness. This is something that you will carry for the rest of your life, this new found appreciation of the simple things.

The Christmas Holiday back here at home only exists because of what you do, and what the brothers and sisters in harm's way did before you. Here, after the Christmas parties, the dinners with the Steak laden with fat and red wine, most folks will go home and climb into a comfortable bed and sleep peacefully, in some cases with a mate that smells good. You, if you are lucky, will get a cot and a hot, and sleep in the company of some that may be in need of Old Navy. The only fat-marbled steak you will see is in your dreams!

The roads here are full of road rage idiots, while over there they are full of roadside bombs. The buildings here are just shapes and angles, while over there they are vantage points for the enemy to fire from. Yes, the mainstream folks are very supportive of all of you, but many do not know the difficult and dangerous tasks that you all do on a daily basis. The people who do know, appreciates it very much, as many of those have walked in your shoes. Lets hope all who have the power to do so will sort this out so that you will be back home for Christmas real soon! In the meantime, lock and load, and clear the area.

________***________

SPORTS UPDATE:

Big Ben was running from the blitz, with no time on the clock, when he threw a pass to the end zone for an almost copycat catch from our Super Bowl win. We beat the Packers 37 to 36!

________***________

A cowboy brings home the Christmas Tree

Doris and Bill wish you a Merry Christmas

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania