FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (Aug. 23, 2012) -- A local photographer, whose previous subjects have included Jane Goodall and Wynton Marsalis, recently visited Fort Meade to photograph service members whose images will be part of a lasting installation art exhibition at a national cemetery.
Sculptor Larry Kirkland was commissioned by the Patterson Foundation to create a series of displays to be used at a pavilion at the Sarasota National Cemetery in Florida.
Kirkland and Silver Spring photographer Greg Schaler have worked together for several years on a wide range of projects.
"My role was to assist him with the images that he plans to use as part of the exhibit," Schaler said of their newest collaboration.
All branches of service will be represented in this permanent exhibit.
To get the images he needed, Schaler reached out to the DoD Public Affairs Office. His request made its way to the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office.
"It is a wonderful opportunity to participate in something very meaningful to U.S. citizens around the country," Schaler said.
Images taken on Aug. 15 depict service members in a variety of realistic scenes from military life such as physical training, maneuvering an obstacle course and a heartwarming homecoming between a father and son.
"They were incredibly responsive, extremely professional and enthusiastic about being a part of the project," Scaler said.
One of the service members in the obstacle course photo shoot was Air Force Tech Sgt. La'Tora Jackson who had to climb a wall and, on another shot, help hold up another service member.
"It was very inspiring; it kind of reminded me back in my basic training days," she said.
Jackson, of U.S. Cyber Command, participated in the project to "give back," she said.
"I wanted to do something to give back to God, my family and my wingmen -- importantly, honor those that served before me," Jackson said.
Marine Staff Sgt. Michael Mejia's scene was of him of doing pull-ups.
"I always volunteer to do stuff for the Marine Corps," said Mejia of the Military Entrance Processing Station, Baltimore.
But Mejia said he found the shoot to be more challenging than he anticipated.
"It was tougher then I thought it would be," he said. "I thought it would be a simple photo shoot, not holding myself up."
As with Jackson, giving back motivated MEPS Tech. Sgt. Cheasa Crump to participate in the photo shoot as well.
"When I heard about the project for the national cemetery, I wanted to do it," Crump said. "I am proud to serve in the military. I always try to take advantage of opportunities to represent the military in a positive way. This project was a way to give back."
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Wyatt Bloom of Defense Media Activity said he participated for his son.
"I just wanted to give some kind of memorial to my infant son," he said. "If [in the future] he is traveling, he can say, 'Hey, here is my Dad.' "
Sgt. 1st Class John Rogers, who was a part of the mock homecoming scene, has always been the one to take the pictures, never be the subject of them.
"I do photography work as a hobby, always on the other end," said Rogers of U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Belvoir, Va. "[I] figured [I'd] get on the picture side. It was completely different from being behind the camera. It gives me experience [of] what models and families go through."
Prior to the photo shoot, Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Mary Heinzl of U.S. Cyber Command had previous modeling experience. She was cast in a modeling agency in Seattle in 2011.
"I didn't pursue a modeling career because the Navy was more important than pursuing modeling," she said.
Heinzl viewed the art project as a way to help the national cemetery.
"I just thought it would be an honor to do something for the national cemetery," she said.
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