Woodstock Harley-Davidson Veterans Memorial Documentary Promo, Ahoj Productions

Flags, mounted on the back of a motorcycle, in front of the Woodstock Harley-Davidson Veterans Memorial.

I recently attended a reunion of sorts – a very small gathering of some high school friends. We were all catching up on what we had been doing over the last *ahem* several years.

I was in awe of some of the things my classmates had been doing – and how their lives had changed (and somehow remained the same) since high school.

When I shared what I’d been working on, it would seem that perhaps my classmates wouldn’t have  put my name under the "most likely to write about and photograph veterans and motorcycles" category in our yearbook.

It’s true. This career path I’ve chosen isn’t where I thought I would have been 20 years ago, but it feels like home. It feels like I am just where I am supposed to be.

Veterans hold a dear spot in my heart. Perhaps I didn’t know that 20 years ago, but they do. I’m so thankful for all they do and all that they have done. I’ve been blessed to get to know quite a few of them.

Many of these veterans ride motorcycles. It seems that there is an unspoken bond between the veteran and the freedom of the wide-open road. It does not go unnoticed that there is grave danger in both – and a veteran friend whom I respected a great deal recently was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident – but I respect the desire of veterans to find a place where they belong after years of military service. That place seems to often be found with Harley-Davidson Motor Company.

Harley-Davidson is a strong supporter of the military. Whether modifying and providing motorcycles for military use or storing motorcycles of the deployed, Harley-Davidson walks the walk with those who serve.

Veterans often seek out a sense of belonging – a desire to bond with people who truly understand them. Motorcycle clubs often provide that camaraderie veterans crave. In a military motorcycle club, veterans know their MC brothers and sisters have their six. They swap stories of boot camp and relate memories that only those who've had similar experiences can share. The bond amongst veterans and particularly amongst veterans who ride is intense.

I am not a rider myself, but so many of these veteran riders have welcomed me into their fold and granted me interviews and shared their stories. Many of them feel like family to me.

I am proud to be working alongside Steve Firak of Ahoj Productions on a documentary about the first veteran memorial to stand on Harley-Davidson dealership grounds. Vietnam veteran and U.S. Marine Cpl. Timothy J. Crabb is not only the designer of the monument, but also the impetus for the project. He, along with Woodstock Harley-Davidson part-owner Doug Jackson, set the idea in motion and today an immense garrison flag flies high over a sea of bricks with the names of those who have served surrounding a monument that acknowledges the great sacrifices of all of our military.

Timothy’s passion is to honor veterans. Some of Steve’s many passions (and God-given talents) is film, voiceover and composing – all of which he did in this promo video. I am honored that he asked me to help work the script and feel even more blessed to be able to be a part of commemorating the stories of those whose names are engraved on the bricks at Woodstock Harley-Davidson. The slogan Timothy chose is: It’s not just a brick. It’s a story.

Every brick tells a story – but so do the people behind the bricks: the friends and family members who honor servicemen and women, the people who purchase bricks for strangers – each of these people have a story, too. As a writer, I embrace the stories told to me and soak in the importance of these memories. 

I love to capture other people's stories. And Steve is the person you want in your corner filming these stories.

To view the promo video, please click here.

A veteran and biker let me photograph his flags in front of the monument.

That's My Brick marks each brick with a fused glass layer, permanently bonded to the brick. 

Tools left during an installation break.

Steve where you can always find him ... behind the camera.

An image taken during the unveiling of the monument and the dedication of the memorial.

Raising the garrison flag over the memorial during the dedication.

Little House on *Our* Prairie

Fall is crazy for me – I’m generally busy with photo shoots, birthday celebrations, work, homeschooling, well visits, dental appointments, eye doctor appointments, etc.

I have a lot to catch up on -- and there is a promise of more blogposts soon, but I thought I’d take a moment to blog our Little House homeschool day birthday party.

My girls love Little House on the Prairie. They love to dress up. They love to visit re-enactment days and pioneer-themed establishments. They love to do school on slates and carry lunch in pails.

After a recent trip to Old World Wisconsin sealed the deal, we decided on a Little House themed day, and then we gathered our supplies and our crew:

Making sugar cookie dough.

First, my friend (I wish she had a website) make me these printed cookie toppers to put on our sugar cookies – and the girls got to work: baking, making icing, frosting and decorating. Thank you, Katie, for making me look like a baking professional!

Rolling these out was super easy!

My incredibly talented friend printed off these toppers for our cookies! Sooooooo adorable. She made me look like a professional!

Second, my girls really were the driving force behind the day here…. They did some Pinterest research and then we set to work. Planning a rustic-themed party for kids sounds easy ... but, in our modern-day world, it is harder than one might expect to be authentic. We did, however, pull together some fun activities and I think the girls had a wonderful time time playing with friends. 

We welcomed our guests with a make-your-own-doll craft -- a piece of cloth and yarn were the only things we needed.

The students took their pennies to Oleson's Mercantile to purchase slates and slate pencils.

Using their purchased slates, the schoolchildren did some copywork out of replica McGuffey's readers!

We are Little House Fans ~ we read a picture book in class.

  

The embroidery station -- everyone could use some needles and embroidery thread to work on embroidery hoops filled with taut linen.  

Of course, there was food! The girls wanted tin plates ... but we were able to find silver paper plates, red-and-white checked paper napkins AND red and white paper straws!

Little House cookies in a little personalized tin pail.

The washing station ~ wash tub, washboard and drying line!

And, some of the kiddos dressed up, which makes pictures just that much more fun.

Luckily there was a break in the drizzle and we could wash and hang the laundry.

I think it was a hit.

And just look at this!!!!! 

Our crew, minus the cute little one in the overalls ... not sure how we missed that one here!

Happy Little House moments ... memories to last forever.