A big salute to the veterans today!

Harry Trimble-Army Air Corps photo recon pilot in Luxembourg

I come from a military family. My great-great-grandfather Wiley Trimble was a confederate soldier. My dad still has his 1861 Confederate Navy Colt, my uncle has his saber. My great-grandfather Richard was calvary during the First World War. My grandfather Harry "Boppa" Trimble flew photo recon in World War II, Korea, and oversaw missions in Vietnam. He also received the Soldier's Medal for bravery when he pulled a test pilot out of a burning cockpit at Edwards Air Force Base. It's the highest honor awarded during peacetime.

My other grandfather Norm served in the Army in WW II and my uncle Les was a seaman in the Navy and survived a kamikaze attack o

n his boat. He doesn't talk about it. My uncle Keith narrowly escaped the USS Hornet when it was sunk at the Battle of Santa Cruz in 1942.

Granville Dressel, Navy Seaman on the U.S.S Franklin

My wife's grandfather Granville served on the USS Franklin, an aircraft carrier that was kamikazied in the gulf of Tokyo while carrying the famed Black Sheep Squadron. He was blown unconscious into the water where he floated for almost a day before being rescued. He passed away just last year, after finally telling his family his harrowing tale. My uncle Jack was an Air Force navigator during Vietnam. His F-4 Phantom was shot down towards the end of the war and he was a POW for several months before he was freed. My cousin Eric, Jack's son, served in the Air Force in Iraq.

Ray Selvyn of Yuma kisses his wife, Olivia, goodbye before heading to Afghanistan.

One of my closest friends, Carlos Chavez, is a veteran of Desert Storm. I have met and photographed several vets of this latest war, some of them are struggling, some of them are homeless.

Larry Deturenee, a veteran of the War in Iraq, sets up a sleep pad at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Vancouver, WA March 30, 2008. It's the last night to sleep there for the homeless program. The next day Larry was on the streets.

Today we honor you all. Your risks, your sacrifices in body, mind, family, faith, and peace, are remembered here today. Thank you for your service.