A ceremony at the Garibay family’s new...

A ceremony at the Garibay family’s new home in Santa Ana marked the

one-year anniversary of Marine Cpl. Jose Garibay’s death in Iraq. He

was the first causality to live in Orange County. At the end of the

event, as the guests were leaving, a reaction took place. All

afternoon, former Marine Cpl. Cuauhtlicoyotl Madrigal stood strong.

He helped to raise the flag in Garibay’s honor and read poems in

English and Spanish for his fallen friend. But Madrigal is only human

and while kneeling down at the foot of the flagpole to pray for

Garibay, he broke out in tears, just as I was getting ready to leave.

The event was taking place right next to me and I had the perfect

angle for the shot. I took a knee and fired away. I created an image

that shows that no matter how long it has been since the death of a

soldier, it still tough to deal with.

-- Mark C. Dustin