Veterans Portrait Project

07/11/2024

About to give the Veterans Day keynote address at USAA in San Antonio alongside my bestie, America's VetDogs Charlie.

01/11/2024

For the month of November, in honor of Veterans Day, you can binge watch Season 1 and 2 of After Action with a Passport! TUNE IN:

Conversations with veterans reveal what life is like before, during and after action.

14/10/2024

Are there any of my veteran friends on here who worked in NCIS, OSI, CID, or CGIS? I'm working on research for After Action Season 3 and need some help.

18/09/2024

I've always appreciated the artistry and intricacy of quilting and began dipping my toe in the art about ten years ago. Between my dear friends Nancy and Trish, my sister Meggen, and my grandma Ann, I learned the fundamentals and have been quilting since. It's a meticulous, beautiful art, and I deeply appreciate those who try and those who've mastered the art. I most especially appreciate the incredible volunteers of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. If you don't know who they are and what they do, tune into this quick interview that Adam Marr and I did at The American Legion National Convention with Executive Director Lexie Abra Millikan! And if you're a quilter, consider making a quilt of valor!!

The American Legion TAL Podcast "Quilts of Valor" quick chat with Lexie Milikan - https://www.qovf.org/in-the-news/listen-to-american-legion-tango-alpha-lima-podcast-with-lexie-millikan/

11/09/2024

Please take a moment to read this beautiful piece by Capt. Reinetta Van about 9/11 and the Veterans Portrait Project

Sitting for a portrait can be fun. Yet being photographed for the Veterans Portrait Project in the Military Women’s Memorial unnerved me to tears.

22/08/2024

At The American Legion Convention in New Orleans! Be sure to stop by the After Action booth and say hi to Don Godish, Hannah Merchant, America's VetDogs Charlie and me!

22/08/2024

In CLT airport, as Charlie and I are headed to The American Legion Convention in New Orleans. Be sure to sure to stop by the After Action booth and say hi if you are too!

28/07/2024

21/07/2024

A Sunday reflection....

I was sifting through my photographic archives and came across this little gem. It's an Ashley and Bill Brokop family photo I'd taken in 2009 featuring their eldest, Wesley, and middle child, Betsy. Their youngest, Abby, was just about to be born - hence the occasion for the family photo session. While in military service together, Ashley and I shared a lot. I was even entrusted to photograph the birth of their son, Wesley. I have had the honor of visually journaling their family in the years since. Like most, I do wonder where the years have gone. Wesley Brokop is now in the military, which blows my mind, and Betsy is about to embark on her senior year of high school with Abby hot on her heels.

In 2009, I was still on temporary retirement from the Air Force so a lot was uncertain for me. I was grappling with post-traumatic stress, physical recovery, and an identity crisis. Hanging up the uniform was hard and giving up the life of a photojournalist was tough too. Thanks to some great mentors in the service, teachers at Syracuse University, and my lighting guru Joe McNally, I took a swing at portraits. There were a lot of misses before I had hits. I struggled, but I triumphed as well.

And in the end, I realized that time behind the camera, whether in combat or in the studio, filled my soul. It made me smile. It was where I belonged. While the impacts of post-traumatic stress had me withdrawing from those I loved, photography drew me back to them like a beacon time and again. It kept me alive.

On this Sunday, I hope you take a moment to reflect on all the good things in your life. If you feel inclined, share something positive happening in your life in the comments!

27/05/2024

At the The American Legion Post 166 for the Memorial Day ceremony.

23/05/2024

It was an honor to have Kelly McKeague from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on The American Legion TANGO ALPHA LIMA podcast to talk about DPAA's mission, his motivation for the work he directs, and much more. This is a really interesting look into the efforts to recover the 81,000+ missing American service members.

HONOR & REMEMBRANCEHow you can be a part of Poppy DayTHE INTERVIEWDefense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Director Kelly McKeague talks about DPAA’s mission to pro...

15/05/2024

Myself and the TANGO ALPHA LIMA podcast team got to chat with Miss America Madison Marsh recently. She's smart, motivated, patriotic, articulate, and a great role model. If you don't know her story, be sure to tune in! I've included the link on Apple Podcasts. LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE to the show while you're there and leave us a review!!

‎Show Tango Alpha Lima Podcast, Ep Tango Alpha Lima: 2024 Miss America - U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh - May 14, 2024

01/05/2024

Hey everyone, After Action Season 2, episodes 1 through 4 are up and ready to be watched. The rest will be rolling out soon! You can stream it on Apple+, Amazon Prize, and of course,
PBS at https://www.pbs.org/show/after-action/

30/04/2024

Hey comic book fans! Check out this interview with Army veteran and comic book creator, Stephen Russell.

The Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis seeks veteran stories of service.THE INTERVIEWArmy Airborne infantryman turned comic book creator, Stephen Russell, aka ...

26/04/2024

Join my co-host, America's VetDogs Charlie, and me, along with other special veteran guests, for an exclusive screening of After Action followed by a panel discussion at one of these two upcoming events! We'll be at the Horry County Museum on May 9th at 6PM and the Aiken Center for The Arts on May 23rd at 6PM. While tickets are free, you will need to register to join us. Details are included below.

Horry County Museum: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/after-action-screening-and-community-discussion-tickets-881295768367?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=

Aiken Center for the Arts: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/after-action-screening-and-community-discussion-tickets-885644956907?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=

24/04/2024

Adam Marr, Joseph Daniel Worley and I chatted with Noelle Austin-Jones, Director of the Armed Forces Wellness Center Director at Fort Meade for the The American Legion TANGO ALPHA LIMA Podcast. Tune in:

BRAVO ZULUCelebration of a service officer who helped a Army veteran recieve the funeral honors she deserved'THE INTERVIEWNoelle Austin-Jones, Director of th...

16/04/2024

This week on The American Legion’s TANGO ALPHA LIMA podcast, Adam, Joseph, and I chat with Jaime Cheshire, who is the Executive Director of Afghanistan War Commission. TUNE IN:

A Bravo Zulu for a hard-working young student, a proud mom, and a Legion post supporting youth in their community.THE INTERVIEWAfghanistan War Commission Exe...