This photo surfaced in the media on Memorial Day, but I'm always at least a week behind in the news (because I'm a writer. News in my make-believe world comes first. Ahem. That's my excuse). So I decided to post this photo for Flag Day. The photo is three years old already, but really, it's timeless, isn't it? I don't think I'll ever forget this image. 
John Moore recorded an image of Mary McHugh at the grave of her fiance Sgt. James John Regan (who was killed by an IED explosion in Iraq in February 2007) at Arlington National Cemetery, May 27, 2007.
At the writers' workshop I just attended, one of the presenters showed this photo and said, "This is why we write. This woman has a story to tell. Someone needs to write it."
Now that I have segued back to the topic of writing, if there is anyone in the kidlit blogosphere who hasn't heard the announcement this morning of a FREE, FREE, FREE, did you get that? FREE online writers' conference for kidlit (MC age limit 18 years), August 10-12 2010, then here's my humble announcement.
This is too good an opportunity to pass up. Thank you Elana Johnson, Shannon Messenger, Lisa and Laura Roecker, Jamie Harrington, and Casey McCormick for brainstorming this event and putting together an amazing list of participants - agents and authors galore. Not to mention all the giveaways they're also putting out.
Go to http://writeoncon.com and make sure you get the widget - see my sidebar.
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This is such a moving photo. I can't even look at it for too long because I am overcome with grief and turmoil for this girl. I love what you heard at your writers' workshop and couldn't agree with it more!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the linkage to the conference.
Wow. That's an amazing photo! And I'm going to check out write on con! :)
ReplyDeleteI hadn't seen that photo before. Powerful and tragic. Thanks so much for sharing it - I don't think I'll be forgetting it either.
ReplyDeleteHappy Flag Day. What a touching photo. And thanks for the heads-up on WriteOnCon!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen that picture. Thanks for sharing, it's so very moving.
ReplyDeleteWrite On Con is such a good idea. Those girls are fabulous for thinking it up (and the agents and editors for participating).
Have a great week!
That photo is so sad and powerful...that poor girl.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Write On Con information.
Hi Margo - me again. I left you something at my blog today.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't seen this photo before, it's very moving and touching. I hope things turned out well for her. Thanks for stopping by today!
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful photograph - just heart-wrenching!
ReplyDeleteWriteOnCon is the coolest thing ever, and so are the magnificent ladies hosting it for us! :-)
Wow--that phot grabs hold of the heart! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI have left you an award on my blog.
That is a heart-wrenching picture.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited about the conference. That will be my second on in August that I'm going to. :D
Oh. That image is so poignant. Oh my gosh. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI have just recently heard about WriteOnCon. What an amazing idea. I'm so psyched these folks thought of it. I wonder if it's the wave of the future? I still love real live conferences, but will look forward to this one too!
Poignant.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who lost her husband in the war. They had only been married a few months. )=