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Writer's pictureKaren Hunnicutt-Meyer

A Sailor's Christmas

A Sailor’s Christmas


Captured on January 18, 2009, in the Duluth Harbor of Lake Superior, this photograph holds deep personal significance. A mere nine months later, my father passed away. That Christmas, I immortalized the wreath we laid on his grave, creating what I titled "A Sailor's Christmas" as a tribute to my dad and my first holiday without him. Unbeknownst to me, three years later, on his birthday, November 2nd, I received an email from the United States Navy. They sought to use my image as the centerpiece for their Holiday Concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. Overwhelmed and humbled, I felt an indescribable joy. It was a profound acknowledgment of my passion—photography.


In discussions with the Navy, they delved into my father's story and incorporated it into the program. My dad, orphaned during the Depression, ingeniously altered his birth certificate and joined the Navy at the age of 15. He spent 21 years serving on the USS Ranger and a Sub Chaser in the North Atlantic. His naval service extended to Korea, and he retired in 1972. The Navy provided him with a home, stability, and opportunities, becoming a source of deep love and loyalty second only to God and family.





The use of my image in the Navy's program symbolized the positive values my father instilled in me—an expression of gratitude in a small but meaningful way. I had the privilege of attending the concert, forging lifelong friendships with members of the US Naval Band. That day, remains an irreplaceable chapter in my life.

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