Art can be used to capture history. Since the first cameras, photographers have sought to bring moments of history to life for those who could not live it. This blog is about capturing with your camera and telling a story with your photos. It documents my two trips to the Chattanooga National Cemetery and the story of an amazing family I met there.
The National Cemetery is located close to downtown Chattanooga and is easily accessed. It is filled with the history of this country and many local veterans are buried there. I decided to drive down there on Saturday evening because I hadn't been there in a while. Because my camera goes with me wherever I go, I took it. I was so glad I did. The serene beauty of this place was present the instant I stepped out of my car. If you haven't been, you should go.
While I was there, I met a family, originally from Ohio, who inspired me to return the next day. but more about that later. First, I want to tell you about them...
One of over 6,000 graves of Unknown Soldiers at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Shot with a Canon 5DS with a 24-70 mm f/2.8L II USM lens. It was shot at 57mm, at ISO 100 at f/2.8 at 1/800 sec.
Unknown should never mean forgotten...
Sunset at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Shot with a Canon 5DS with a 24-70 mm f/2.8L II USM lens. It was shot at 24mm, at ISO 100 at f/2.8 at 1/640 sec.
Over 180 German prisoners of war are buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery pursuant to the Peace Treaty that ended the First World War. The German government was allowed to erect the monument you see amid the headstones in 1935. There is an incredible irony that German soldiers are buried in this cemetery with American GI's and that a monument placed by Hitler's government is there as well. Shot with my iPhone 7 Plus.
I went to the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Saturday evening. I’m not sure exactly why I went, except I felt drawn to go. If you have never been, you should go. There are over 50,000 warriors and their family members buried there. I found the graves of warriors from every war, from the grave of S. Miller, a Revolutionary War veteran, to soldiers from the Gulf War. There is a monument to Andrews’ Raiders. There are 186 German prisoners of war buried there. Of the 50,000 buried there, over 6,000 are unknown soldiers.
I had the cemetery to myself for the most part. But I did get to observe several families coming to leave flowers. I saw children decorating the grave of a parent. I saw a widow place flowers at the grave of her husband. I saw parents leave flowers at the grave of their son.
The geometric precision of a military cemetery. Perfect diagonals and horizontals make for compelling compositions. Canon 5DS 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens. Shot at 24mm, ISO 500, f/9 at 1/400 sec.
But what moved me...was one family from Ohio. The family had been coming to the Cemetery since 1870. Each year, the widow of a young lieutenant of the 7th Ohio Regiment who was killed at the battle of Chattanooga came here to mourn and remember him. She came until her death and then her family continued the tradition. Each year they come and lay a bouquet. But what struck me was they also brought a bouquet for the grave of an unknown soldier.
The widow began this tradition on her second trip to Chattanooga. She had done so because she thought that her husband might have known the fallen soldier and been friends with him. She did not want his grave unadorned. And so now each year, the family brings a bouquet to both. One, is a beloved family member...the other an adopted one.
Lookout Mountain maintains an eternal vigil over the graves at Chattanooga. Canon 5DS 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. Shot at 50mm at ISO 100, f2.8 at 1/640 sec.
Unknown should never mean forgotten. While I can’t be entirely sure, I believe I found the graves of Unknowns from most of the major conflicts. Their graves will be adorned today with a simple flag.
The evening was cloudy, but just a bit of color peeped through over the Circle of Honor. Shot with my iPhone 7 Plus.
These men, The Unknowns, do not rest in the ground of the home they loved. There was no hero’s funeral for them. There was no goodbye. There was only a family left to wonder what had happened. All they knew is that they never came home. There was only a hole that was never healed.
Union soldiers at final rest.
Today...as we pause to remember those who gave their lives for us...take a moment to think of the Unknowns. And pray specifically for the families of those who never came home. Certainly celebrate and honor every name on every tomb...but pray for the families of...the Unknowns. The Unknowns... and their families...paid the most.
As an epilogue...I returned to the Cemetery on Sunday evening...and took flowers with me. I found a dozen graves of an Unknown...and placed a single rose on the grave. I know there are 6,000 or so I didn't decorate...but there's always next year. I will make it a tradition for as long as I am able...to do that every year. Maybe I will see you there?
