Death has been a part of human culture since the beginning of human civilization, yet it is still heartbreaking to those who were involved with the deceased. It is human nature to miss one who had been so close to use had then, in an instant, was taken away from us. When that metaphoric Grim Reaper rears his ugly head, he breaks away the bonds that were formed together by this deceased person. The events that follow is a sense of grieving and loss, as the people known to the deceased share in their sadness for this human being who does not walk on this Earth. Humans form these said bonds with each other, whether it be between friends, husband and wife, or even father and son. Today, I wanted to discuss the later. What I will be talking about is images, which, like death, has had an impact on human civilization.
The image that is under the microscope is the one above. For those who had a loved one in the army who has left this world know this image. This picture shows a young boy. We see him dressed in an outfit that not many children wear, a suit. We notice that he is receiving a flag, a folded flag. This could only mean one thing, which is this young boy has lost someone, someone in the army. When looking up the story behind the photography, we come to find out that his name is Christian Golczyski, age eight.
Christian had lost his father, Marc, would was a marine. Marc was shot and killed while he was on patrol on his second tour of Iraq. Marc was killed just two weeks before he was supposed to come back home. This picture shows the memorial service for Marc. The picture of the memorial service is down at Christian’s point of view, as if we are with him at this sad moment of his life. Without knowing the back story you can tell by what his happening in the photo, the presenting of the flag. We can tell of the significant of the event just by the appearance of the Marine and the dress that everyone is wearing in the background.
The main focus of this picture, the focal point, is from where I stand is the face of the child. We know this face and we know it all too well. We have most likely seen this face before or have made this face as well. He is obviously trying to keep a straight, serious face during this whole affair, but he is so overwrought with emotion that he cannot hide the feeling that us human get when we have lost someone we love. The tides of war have brought upon more loss than periods of peace. This little boy will not grow up with a fun-loving father by his side, helping him grow up into the full-fledged adult. That is something that saddens me. But there is something else I have noticed about this photo.
Upon searching more about the folding of flags and their significance, I can across a circulated story on the reasons why the American flag is folded the way its folded, thirteen times. It stated that when the flag is lowered, the flag is then folded and then presented the widow of the fallen soldier. But in this photo, the flag is presented to Christian Golczyski, age eight. Where is his mother? Did his father specifically give orders, in a will or through some other communication that Christian will receive the flag upon his possible and untimely death? Or is there an even worse prospect, was his father the only guardian he had? What happened to the mother?
The prospect of this possibility just makes the face upon this young boy’s face all the more sad. The face that we are received during our grieving process. The face is part of the ceremony. We shed the tears for the loved one to honor his memory, like in this case, a man who fell in the line of duty, a man who volunteered for his country. He sacrificed himself to try and self keep this country as free as it is, as cliché as that may sound. This images drives home the sadness that surrounds death and the feelings that we cannot hide. Even behind our most serious face, some of us will still show that hint of grief.
Works Cited
"40 of The Most Powerful Photographs Ever Taken – Beautiful Showcase." Design You Trust. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013.
"The Meaning of the Folding of the American Flag-Truth! & Fiction!" The Meaning of the Folding of the American Flag-Truth! & Fiction! N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013.
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