Memorial Day 2002 Photographs and text: Carl Cook

In thinking about Memorial Day, and remembering those who have been lost, including family, friends, and friends I served with, I thought I would post the following story.

On May 1, I was photographing the May Day protest demonstrations here in Olympia, Washington, when a lone man caught my eye. There was something about him that told me to stay with him.  The man's story is the story of a lot of men and women. He is us.

The marchers, a couple hundred strong, were enjoying the freedom of the street. From above, a young man shouted his cause.

As the crowd cheered, one man, a passerby, stopped to listen.

Apparently, what he was hearing, was different from what was actually being said.

"I am a Marine Corps veteran," cried the man. "I've lost a lot of friends," he shouted over and over.

Suddenly, the crowd went silent. The party came to a halt.

The man was not a faceless street person, but a real man, feeling real pain and real confusion.

Suddenly...as if out of nowhere...

Someone who cared.

From the heart.

	And more.
So many are gone.
	Semper Fi.

U.S. Marine Corps. veteran, Michael Bertiz and his new friend, a volunteer from a local shelter.

Photographs and text by and © Copyright 2002, Carl Cook. All rights reserved.

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