In times of war, there are plenty of ways to show gratitude for our soldiers. A minimal gesture is all it takes to make them feel welcome, and that their contribution to our country is recognized and honored. Rick Gerrity, one of our Unique Photo instructors, provides a service for our troops that helps them and their families unite, whether they are celebrating the holidays together or apart. Rick, an experienced portrait photographer, is providing portraits of soldiers and their families through the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributor's Association (PMDA), the USO, and the Soldiers' Angels organization this holiday season. He will travel 1,350 miles to Gulfport, Mississippi, to meet with these families and provide professional portraits free of charge over the weekend of December 8th.
A sampling of Rick's portraits in our Gallery
When Rick first began his involvement in this project, his son, LCpl. Ryan Gerrity of the United States Marine Corps, was serving 7,600 miles away in Afghanistan. During a routine patrol, an Afghan soldier leading his group was accidentally struck by a civilian car that plunged both itself and the soldier into a nearby river. LCpl. Gerrity and his platoon worked tirelessly over the next several minutes to rescue the entire family in the car and their fellow soldier. Nine lives were saved altogether from the rapidly moving canal. This laudable act served to remind Rick of why he provides these services in the first place, and that we all owe our troops a debt of gratitude.
Rick has received much support for his photographic efforts. He has received gear from Panasonic, including travel expenses and their Lumix GH3 cameras. The Hilton Garden Inn, located in Gulfport, has supplied him with complementary rooms to unpack and build the two professional studios he travels with. Lastly, we here at Unique Photo have supplied Rick with lighting equipment and backgrounds. In August of 2012, Rick's photos, captured along with his good friend and fellow photographer John Bentham, were printed and displayed in our gallery to raise awareness for the project. Additionally, these gracious efforts were recognized at an honorary dinner at CES 2012 in Las Vegas. The PDMA and Soldiers' Angels organizations were also in attendance.
Are you interested in donating some of your time to provide professional portraits of our troops and their loved ones like Rick has? You can find out more information on the PMDA Portraits of Love homepage. Although no more volunteers are needed for 2012, volunteers are encouraged to apply for 2013.