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Operation Iraqi Freedom

Pictures of the Year International 2006

Below are two pictures that were awarded first and second place at the Pictures of the Year International photographic contest for 2006.

First Place

Todd Heisler - The Rocky Mountain News

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as one of the most powerful in the process: "See the people in the windows? They'll sit right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They're going to remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."

Second Place

Todd Heisler - The Rocky Mountain News

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."

Our appreciation goes to Pictures of the Year Internation and Todd Heisler from the Rocky Mountain News as the resources for the information and images presented here; and to CPT Sarahtyah T. Wilson, who shared these images with us at the office.

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This page was last updated on June 10, 2006 8:02 AM.

Disclaimer: Items in Camouflage are collected from sources throughout the world and the Internet. We try to give credit where credit is due. If an item belongs to you and we have not acknowledged that, or you want it removed, please let us know and we will correct the problem immediately. Many images posted here are scanned and retouched to enhance the image. We do not own the actual picture copyrights; we own the image files we created from this process.