Choose the Photographers Chosen by Photographers - Hampton Roads, Virginia
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • What We Offer >
      • Business
      • Family
      • In Studio and on Location Sessions
      • Your Perfect Day
    • Our Experts >
      • Bios and Portfolios
      • What our clients are saying
    • The Studio
    • How to choose a photographer
    • Upcoming Events
  • Portfolio
  • Blog
    • Entrepreneurs of Hampton Roads
  • Contact us
    • Media/Speaking
  • Our Brands
    • Origins Heirloom Artistry
    • Belle Women's Portraiture
    • Focused Business Images

A Veteran's Wish of a Lifetime | Washington DC Metro Area Photographer

12/15/2011

8 Comments

 
I had the opportunity to do something a little different.  This time, I wasn't photographing a family at Mount Vernon or Meadowlark Botanical Garden, I wasn't cuddling a brand new baby to get her to sleep and I wasn't watching a one-year-old smash a birthday cake to pieces.  This was new.  I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Newberry, a World War II veteran.  Bob was nominated by his friend Gene for Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime.  From the JBWOL site: "At JBWOL we believe that most seniors have one thing in their life that they have always wanted to do or experience.  However, and for many different reasons, often times they never get to experience these dreams.  Through JBWOL and with your support, we will make those wishes come true, contributing to an American cultural change that honors and celebrates the lives of our elders."  This is something I am happy to support. 

Bob Newberry, 85, joined the Navy right out of high school and bravely served our country with the USS 630th Landing Craft Infantry Gun Boat during World War II. He shuttled Marines to and from the Navy ships on waterbug gunboats, providing close-in fire support with machine guns and rockets as the Marines stormed the beaches of Okinawa and Iwo Jima.  Bob was wounded at Iwo Jima, the longest and most intense conflict in the Pacific theater, and received the honor of the Purple Heart.  He still has shrapnel in his body that was too dangerous to remove.  After recovering, his unit was stationed at Pearl Harbor where he bravely jumped in the ocean, saving a fellow shipmate from drowning in a riptide.  Bob could have received the Life Saver Medal for this act of heroism but was too humble to nominate himself for such recognition.

To commemorate Bob’s heroism and selfless service to our country, Jeremy Bloom’s Wish of a Lifetime is proud to fulfill Bob’s wish to visit the World War II Memorial and the United States Marines Museum in Washington D.C.  For the first time ever, Bob will see the memorials and monuments built to honor him and his fellow service men and women.

It was my honor to accompany Bob and Gene and to photograph Bob's Wish of a Lifetime come true.

Picture
Picture
Bob was able to find himself in the registry.  He made sure I saw what a handsome sailor he was!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
It was touching to see how many people approached Bob and started a conversation with him.  This woman in particular, a WWII widow, really connected with Bob.
Picture
Everybody made Bob feel like a celebrity!
Picture
The man who made it happen, Gene, is also a veteran.
Picture
Bob is a proud Texas boy, and other than his time in the Navy he has lived there his whole life.
Picture
The following day, we visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
Picture
Picture
Picture
We did not know this was part of the tour, but there is video footage from Iwo Jima in this ship mock-up.  Bob actually saw his old ship on the video.  He reaction was priceless.
Picture
Picture
Bob shared stories with the museum staff members.  They treated him very well and he was able to get a personal tour.
Picture
Picture
8 Comments
Erica
12/15/2011 11:18:26 am

Timorah, this is amazing. I have goose bumps. What a lovely idea to focus on Seniors and their unfulfilled dreams! You're so lucky to have captured a hero like this on film. Ours has nothing on that generation!

Reply
Rhonda Meador
12/15/2011 11:55:47 am

Wow, amazing. I just love this story about this man's life & you captured it so well. Thanks Bob for your service and allowing us to have a glimpse into your life story.

Reply
Anna
12/15/2011 09:01:58 pm

How amazing!

Reply
Jennifer
12/18/2011 11:27:43 am

Thank you for sharing these pictures of my grandpa's trip. I am glad I got to see them.

Reply
Angie Basham
12/20/2011 03:23:37 am

What an incredible opportunity for your to meet this gentleman and hear his story! You captured this HERO wonderfully!

Reply
Abbie link
1/5/2012 11:43:06 pm

Timorah, these are beautiful!! You did such a wonderful job capturing his wish and the day. I'm so glad that you were able to do this. I know the foundation really appreciates it. :)

Reply
Polo Outlet link
5/25/2012 10:33:49 am

This is a good article, first met, I liked it, to my help is very large, I believe this article will get more attention, I would like to thank the author's share.

Reply
Tiffany and Co Outlet link
5/25/2012 10:35:18 am

A single word are feeling quite a lot of people, nice blog, hard to forget.Thank you, author, to read your article I learned a lot things,I heartfelt thank you for sharing.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Do you want to look fabulous in any photo?  Find out here.
    Picture

    Owner/ Photographer

    My team and I work with the best of Hampton Roads.  Read more about it all and a little about us.

    Categories

    All
    Announcements
    Baby
    Families
    First Birthday
    Headshots
    Holiday Ordering
    Info
    Kids
    Lifestyle
    Musings
    Newborn
    Other
    Outdoors
    Parks
    Personal
    Tips
    Watermark

    RSS Feed

4112 George Washington Memorial Hwy, Suite 1, Yorktown VA 23692. 
(On Route 17 next to York Lanes bowling alley.)  
757-705-3733
info@timorahbeales.com
By Appointment Only.  Click here to make one.
© 2010-2018 Timorah Beales - Yorktown, VA (serving all of Hampton Roads and Coastal Virginia: York County, Williamsburg, Poquoson, Seaford, Gloucester, Newport News, Hampton and the greater Hampton Roads Virginia area.)  We also travel everywhere to from Outer Banks, NC to the greater Washington DC metro area.  On location and studio portraits.

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • What We Offer >
      • Business
      • Family
      • In Studio and on Location Sessions
      • Your Perfect Day
    • Our Experts >
      • Bios and Portfolios
      • What our clients are saying
    • The Studio
    • How to choose a photographer
    • Upcoming Events
  • Portfolio
  • Blog
    • Entrepreneurs of Hampton Roads
  • Contact us
    • Media/Speaking
  • Our Brands
    • Origins Heirloom Artistry
    • Belle Women's Portraiture
    • Focused Business Images
✕