Boots, spurs and hooves, members of Old Guard cassion team

Fall Colors in the Rain at Arlington National Cemetery

Firing Party at Arlington National Cemetery The command "Fire"

Bugler preparing to play Taps at Arlington National Cemetery last week.

Although it's the first week of January there are still some areas of the cemetery where the Christmas wreaths are providing color to the winter scene.

International Color Awards | 5th Annual Photography Masters Cup

International Color Awards | 5th Annual Photography Masters Cup

Dear Don,
CONGRATULATIONS on being a Nominee at the 5th Annual Photography Masters Cup with:
Nominee in Photojournalism "Flag Ceremony At Arlington"
 Nominee in Americana "Final Respects at Arlington"

11,321 entries were received from 83 countries and your work received a high percentage of votes overall. Certainly an achievement, well done!
The Awards Jury represents the industry's biggest names and tastemakers who reviewed the entries online before making the nominations shortlist and honoring 272 title awards in 18 categories. TheAwards could not have wished for a better group of professionals to work with.
We will be promoting your nomination through our international network and PR campaign.
Congratulations once again on being a Nominee and we wish you a most successful photography year.

Best regards,
Basil O'Brien
Creative Director

Watering the cassion team horses at Arlington National Cemetery

Last Friday was hot here is DC with a new record, but despite the afternoon 105% the funerals at Arlington National Cemetery continued on schedule as always.

The honor guard wear their wool uniforms with the appearance of cool detachment.

This is more of a snapshot photo than I usually present, but as we waited for the arrival of

the family to the Old Administration bldg one of the stable hands made the trip from the barn with buckets of water to cool the horses. One of those things that's over and above what's expected of them but they are devoted to the well-being of the horses and their job honoring American veterans. 

I spoke to the family members traveling back to Oklahoma Monday night and the widow told me she spent the night in the hospital afterwards from a combination of the stress of heat, humidity and grief.

 
This was the first burial I've done in section 1 which is one of the oldest parts of the cemetery between the Lee mansion and the Fort Myers Old Post Chapel. The family has gravesites there for 4 generations of family members that have served in the U.S. military.

Don Harper

Wonderful Beauty of Storms

This was a fast moving storm that moved through Arlington on the July 4th weekend. A bit of destruction knocked out power but the storm created some beautiful moments as it moved down the Potomac River and across the Washington DC area from Virginia.