I flew down here to Columbia, SC, last night after I found out I wouldn’t be allowed to shoot at Dover. So, right now I am holed up in a Holiday Inn waiting for a call from Capt. Danzie to find out when he’ll be flying down with Fitz’s casket.
I’ve heard that the camera can be a shield. That photographers use it to keep a buffer between them and the subjects of their work. I’ve realized, after sitting here for hours, that the way I’ve dealt with Almar’s loss is to work through it from behind my camera. I definitely stepped out from behind my camera last week when I heard about Almar and lost my shit a bit. But, after Sharon told me that she wanted me to continue shooting Almar’s story, I have something to focus my grief on and perhaps make something good from our loss.
I say ‘our’ loss because I don’t think that my camera has been much of a shield for me with you guys. I should have been able to hide behind the camera and watch emotionless as were yelled at, or when you screwed up. And I suppose it was in the begining, maybe during pickup at OCS. But as time passed it was impossible for me not to feel something as I witnessed heartbreak and exhultation. I’ve taken a little pride in your achievements, and been stung after shooting some hard moments.
I guess all this is a long way around saying that I’ll miss Almar as a friend, as I would any of you. So, from ‘Bad Luck Rob,’ I say do your jobs well, stay safe and come home.
Okay that’s it for personal, cathartic rants. Thanks for listening.
Lastly, Fitz’s dad, Robert, has asked me to speak at a memorial service in Richmond at the end of March. If any of you that knew Almar could relate some stories about hanging with him to me, that would be great. It doesn’t have to be long or even well written, just jot something about the thing that you remember about Fitz that makes you smile (or wince). I am just going to use bits and pieces talk about what he was like. Thanks for any help.
6 Responses
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
This is a lovely blog you keep. It’s been circulating among some of my classmates from Lexington HS, people who knew Almar and will remember him fondly. I think some folks from College of Charleston are passing it along as well.
You should keep making your cathartic rants. It’s better to deal in any way than not to deal at all.
Good luck to you and thanks for all you do every day.
Your tribute to Almar is beautiful and it evident how much he and his fellow soldiers mean to you. My husband John is the new president of The Citadel where Almar graduated from college. I wish we had the chance to know him on a personal level as so many have told us what a terrific cadet, friend and soldier Almar truly was. The Citadel will be holding a memorial service for Almar on March 10 and we would be honored if you would like to attend and continue your tribute for one of The Citadel’s finest cadets. Almar will be missed by all whose lives he touched.
Thank you so much for letting everyone know through your work what each of these fine men and women are doing each day to preserve freedom for us all.
God Bless You.
Can you let me know when the memorial service in richmond will be when you find out..thanks.
Rob,
You can tell by your wonderful tribute to Almar that you are one strong link in the chain which holds the Marine family together. There are never adequate words to describe the feelings we have when we lose one of our own. We can only remember and honor the sacrifice and cherish the memory of those who give so much to protect and defend our way of life. I can only remain in awe of the honor and courage shown by those who go, when they don’t have to go, when they don’t have to volunteer – because it is their unselfish gift to all of us. This gift has no match in life on earth and is rewarded in Heaven. The Amalfi family sends our deepest respect and admiration to Almar and our heartfelt condolence to his family. Semper Fi
Almar and I went to high school together and while he was down at the Citadel I attended the College of Charleston. I remember running into him on the street one day and giving him a huge hug–from that point on my dorm and eventually apartment became a fort for cadets to come and change and get out of their uniforms to hit the town. One night a group of friends all went to dinner and headed out for the usual party–I will always remember when Almar and rushing to find a cap to conceal his identity to avoid upper classman from the “del” as it is often referred–or waking up in the morning to see uniforms hung over the couch and four guys next to each other on the floor from a late night. The memories will go on–and I realize now, that is exactly how people do become immmortal–because of memories. Thank you for what you have done and are doing…you are immortalizing a great human being, Almar, and in that respect and from that perspective, he’ll never be gone. Peace and Love.
Almar was my best friend. Thanks so much for remembering him in such a personal way. I won’t be able to be at the memorial service tomorrow but just wanted to share a few memories of him. Almar and I were college friends. He was at the Citadel while I was at Charleston Southern. We met through mutual friends and soon became best buds. He loved cheeseburgers and would do anything he could to get me to bring him some during the week or when he was stuck there. He laughed at everything…I can still hear it. He would do anything for anyone…as I am sure you already know. And we constantly fought over who was taller, even though I know it was him since I am only 5′2″. I love these memories and the million more I have with him. Thanks for helping keep him alive in our hearts.