Photo of eagle on Fort Snelling gravestone touches hearts, goes viral

Star Tribune ^ | August 10, 2011 | JON TEVLIN

[Kartographer]

This is a repost of a story from last year:

And so it is with my June column on the amateur photographer, the widow and the eagle on a gravestone.

A quick recap: Amateur photographer Frank Glick was on his way to work when he drove through Fort Snelling National Cemetery early one morning. He spotted a bald eagle through the mist, perched on a gravestone, and snapped shots with his aging but ever-present camera.

Nice shot, he thought.

[yldstrk]

Sir Walter Scott

[MinuteGal]

Beautiful, Kartographer.

You have touched our hearts.

Leni

[Library Lady]

Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dave Grossman speaks on being a Warrior

[Okieshooter]

Thank you!

[FES0844]

Picture & poem beautiful. Very moving. Thank you.

[DoctorBulldog]

Air Force Major Terry Dutcher, of Hill Air Force Base, Utah, visits the grave of her son, Army Corporal Michael Avery Pursel, who died serving in Iraq in 2007 at age 19. Photo taken at Arlington on May 24, 2012.

[The Great RJ]

This photo is as much an iconic tribute to our nation’s military as the famous shot of the flag raising at Iwo Jima. Both of these photos were just taken on the fly, but capture the spirit of valor and sacrifice of our military.

[TXnMA]

Beautiful! I plan to read it at today's Memorial Day service at out town's Veterans' memorial! (With credit to "Fellow FReeper, "Kartographer"...)

(BTW, "quite" should be "quiet"...)

[mcshot]

Indeed!

[X-spurt]

Not to rain on any memory of all our brave fallen patriots. Even though the photo of flag at Iwo was not taken on the fly, rather was a re-enactment staged for photo, it remains one of the greatest icons of our never ending fight for freedom.

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[faucetman]

Awesome poem, awesome photo, even if it was photo-shopped.

I am not saying that it is, just that it looks like it is. Even if it is, it is still a great photo, because it is something possible.

Top third of the bird is divided by a straight line following a line along the top of a row of tombstones. More obvious if you blow it up. It's like the Eagle was place on top of the cemetery photo.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Even though the photo of flag at Iwo was not taken on the fly, rather was a re-enactment staged for photo,

Urban legend perpetuated by the ignorant.

[Twinkie]

Great poem!

[faucetman]

Less likely photo-shopped if below is true.

“Glick took the photo with an older Nikon camera and a multi-purpose lens. He took more than 60 shots of the bird at the cemetery, from different angles and locations. Some are sharp, some are blurry. Some are not very well composed”

[DoctorBulldog]

NOT PHOTO-SHOPPED!

Cheers

[Kartographer]

After reading your post I can't help, but think of this quote from Star Trek DS9:

"The only real question is whether you believe in the legend of Davey Crockett or not. If you do, then there should be no doubt in your mind that he died a hero's death. If you do not believe in the legend, then he was just a man, and it does not matter how he died."

To me the the same applies here. If you truly believe in what the picture represents why would doubt enter your mind? And if you don't believe does it real matter how the picture was taken?

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Very touching and brought a lump to my throat.

That said, if our Fascist, Neo-Commie, Hate-America, Dear Leader gets reelected, in 4 years, this magnificent symbol of all we stand for, will end up being replaced by this "bird" as it awaits our "demise"

[Terry Mross]

I hope this is published. If not, put it on cards along with this picture and sell them. Give the proceeds to vet charities. I’d buy one.