The Citizen Soldier Project
As many of you may know I have been volunteering as a photojournalist for Dallas South News, a non-profit organization that focuses its coverage on the underserved south side of Dallas. You may also be aware that my interest in photography began while serving in Iraq. Earlier this year I began working on a project that brought those two parts of my life together. It started as a small idea, to put together a collection of portraits of individuals from DSN’s coverage area to tell their stories. However, as I talked the idea over with my editor, Shawn Williams, it evolved into something completely different. We decided to focus on something that I was more directly connected to, veteran’s of Iraq and Afghanistan, and to expand the project beyond just sharing stories, but as a fund raising effort for both DSN and the Fisher House, a charity benefiting wounded soldiers.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have dominated the workings of this country for the better part of the last decade. There was hardly a day where there wasn’t a story about what was going on overseas. However, as time went on, and country became fatigued by two seemingly un-ending wars, the attention shifted to domestic issues. And when the financial crisis hit, that was pretty much the end of it. It is easy for us to forget that every one of those soldiers fighting overseas is a citizen, a member of our own communities. With this project we wanted to bring that focus back to those who served.
Working on this project, which was completely volunteer and donation driven, was incredibly rewarding for me. It allowed me to connect and work with fellow veterans, and at the same time, work towards benefiting those in need and my own community. We were able to include each branch of service and very diverse group of individuals. Each brought their own unique perspective, personal story, and experiences of serving over seas. The photographs were displayed at the Janette Kennedy Gallery in Dallas for a one-week showing. This was my first gallery event and I am grateful it came in such a fulfilling experience. I would like to personally thank both UMoveFree.com and the South Side Public Improvement District for their donations that made this possible. View the entire Citizen Soldier Gallery at grantmeeksphoto.com.
