PhotoBlog - arlington

Jan

2011

3:55pm, EST

Marine widow with newborn son mourns their loss at Arlington National Cemetary

By Carissa Ray

I had just seen these photos move on the wire and was preparing them for the PhotoBlog when the photographer posted a wrenching detail on Facebook that added another layer of depth.

Evan Vucci posted: Just photographed the funeral of Marine Cpl. Derek Wyatt who was killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 6. His son was born 24 hours after the news of his death. Heartbreaking...

Evan Vucci / AP

Kait Wyatt carries her son, Michael, during a burial service for her husband, Marine Cpl. Derek Wyatt at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 7. Wyatt, of Akron, Ohio, was killed Dec. 6 in Afghanistan. Wyatt's son was born 24 hours after his wife received the news of his death.

Evan Vucci / AP

Kait Wyatt clutches a flag during the burial service for her husband, Marine Cpl. Derek Wyatt at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Friday, January 7, 2011. Wyatt, of Akron, Ohio, was killed Dec. 6 in Afghanistan. Wyatt's son was born 24 hours after his wife received the news of his death.

More on Cpl. Wyatt and memories of him in his Ohio hometown can be found at The Akron Beacon Journal:

Akron Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth said Mayor Don Plusquellic has sent a letter to Wyatt's parents indicating that ''he would like them to participate in a decision about how best to memorialize'' their son in his hometown. . . Akron officials are also interested in discussing the broader issue of memorializing all those from the city who have died in war, Lieberth said.

''It needs to be bigger,'' he said of the discussion.

There is no single city memorial to honor all who have died, Lieberth said, although there are memorials for the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam within the city.

''We need to find a way to remember those who died in service to our country,'' Lieberth said. (full story)

The Year in Pictures: Outtakes

By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

I've seen a lot of pictures of funerals at Arlington cemetery, but this one is simple and heartbreaking. You don't need to see more than the soldiers hands with the folded flag to know exactly where they are and what is happening. It didn't make the final cut, but you can see what did here.

When you can hear an image: Bugler playing taps at Arlington

By Carissa Ray

It's eerie when a photo has the effect of not just taking you to a place visually, but allowing you to smell, taste, feel or in this case, hear what the scene was like. This article from West Point notes that the playing of Taps is, like Arlington, unique to the United States military.

"The melody is both eloquent and haunting and the history of its origin is interesting and somewhat clouded in controversy. In the British Army, a similar call known as Last Post has been sounded over soldiers' graves since 1885, but the use of Taps is unique with the United States military, since the call is sounded at funerals, wreath-laying and memorial services."

Conversations sparked by photojournalism. Follow us on Twitter to keep up-to-date.

Marine widow with newborn son mourns their loss at Arlington National Cemetary

The Year in Pictures: Outtakes

Obama reads to second graders in Arlington, Virginia.

When you can hear an image: Bugler playing taps at Arlington

Remembering a friend at Arlington National Cemetery

Memorial Day