The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE - Photographer Chuck Almarez of Clifton Forge is a Vietnam veteran who wanted to give something back to the men and women who are currently serving in the military.
Almarez, who teaches photography courses for Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, came up with the idea for “Operation Home Front,” after running into National Guard member Louis Pendleton of Clifton Forge, who had been on Almarez’s tee-ball team as a youngster and was attending classes at DSLCC.
“Operation Home Front” provides high quality and unique portraits of service members and their families taken at the “Fire and Light Gallery,” a Clifton Forge studio owned and operated by Almarez and Glen Bryant.
All service members – active, reserves and National Guard – and their immediate family qualify to receive a free studio photo session that includes a 5 by 7 print of the service member in uniform and a 5 by 7 print of the family.
Families of deployed service members also qualify for a free studio portrait session every quarter during the deployment. Images from those sessions will be posted online for the service member to view. Services members who are deployed and separated from their families will be able to access and share all their portraits from the studio Web site, www.fireandlightgallery.com.
“I saw Louis several times over the last few years after he’d joined the Guard and been assigned as a recruiter at the local armory,” said Almarez. “We talked several times and I’d learned that he’d already been to Kosovo on a peace-keeping mission and had also been to several training schools that I was familiar with.
“We got to swapping stories about active duty and about my time in service and my tour in Vietnam. I’d see him in the parking lot at DSLCC every so often and a few months ago he mentioned that his unit was being deployed to Iraq in January.
“During my six-plus years in the California Army National Guard we were only called to federal duty during our annual training cycle and for the monthly weekend meeting. Every other duty was at the state level, helping with floods, earthquakes, civil disturbances, etc. I couldn’t imagine leaving for such a long period as a part-time soldier – but that’s actually the Guard mission.
“That got me to thinking that there might be some way to ease their burden and keep them connected to the home front,” adds Almarez. “If I were a baker maybe I’d make them a cake, but I’m a photographer so it seemed natural to take pictures. I thought the photo of the soldier would help the folks at home, then I thought that a photo of the family with the soldier might also help the troops. The quarterly updates of the family photos was just a natural progression. I’ll post them on the website so the soldiers can see how the kids are growing and changing.
“It’s just one way of saying thanks and recognizing them for their time, effort and sacrifice in defense of our nation,” adds Almarez.
Bryant, who is a blacksmith, made a commemorative knife that was hand-forged from a railroad spike and mounted on a cherry plaque that came from a tree felled on his property on Iron Gate Hill. It was presented to the unit during their Family Day gathering in Lexington Tuesday.
Since the unit was being deployed within the week, Almarez photographed about 40 National Guard members and their families there, instead of at the studio in Clifton Forge.
“Probably half of our unit had their pictures taken,” said Pendleton. “It was a very thoughtful gift for the soldiers. Everybody loved it.”
Sgt. Pendleton, 24, serves as a vehicle commander in Bravo Company, 1st Battalion 116th Infantry Brigade, Virginia National Guard, of which he has been a member for six years. A 2004 graduate of Alleghany High School, he and his wife, Christina, are expecting their first child, a boy, in May. He says that he will be able to return home briefly for the birth.
Pendleton’s studio portrait was featured on a poster to help promote “Operation Home Front”.
Several local merchants helped sponsor the program: Clifton Forge Antique Mall, Heirlooms of Clifton Forge, Regional Home Care, Northwest True Value, Vic’s Italian and American Family Restaurant, Club Car Shop and Deli, Highlands Realty, Jack Mason’s Tavern, Riders Up! Outfitters, Mountain Regional Hospice and Bear Mountain LLC.
Almarez is teaching several non-credit photography classes for DSLCC this semester, including “Beginning Photography” on the main campus in Clifton Forge, and “Black and White” and “Image Restoration” courses at the DSLCC Rockbridge Regional Center in Buena Vista, all starting in February.
He also has workshops on “How to Use Your Digital Camera” scheduled in both locations this month. For more information, contact DSLCC Non-Credit Coordinator Judy Clark at (540) 863-2863 or email jclark@dslcc.edu, or contact Almarez at kidpix2000@ntelos.net .
Any members of the armed forces interested in participating in “Operation Home Front” may call the studio, located at 427 E. Ridgeway St., Clifton Forge, at (540) 862-1718.
