Independence Day

I continue to be drawn to the Newspaper Blackout process working with obituaries. I'm finding that it's the photos of the departed that draw me more than the words, but the words soon follow. So many people post obituaries with pictures of the deceased at a younger time in their life - that in itself is interesting. We want to be remembered (or remember others) as they were, at some pivotal point in their lives or happier point, anything apparently than this old broken down person that has lived out a full life. Or maybe they just think old friends and family they may not have seen for years wouldn't recognize them. Not everyone does this, of course, but many do.

This blackout obit seems appropriate for today in America. Just because we won our independence so very long ago does not mean we haven't had to continue our fight to keep it, as well as the independence of others. So many do not survive their battles for Independence. This man did.