1 MAR 2008 A project seeking memories of fallen heroes

1 MAR 2008 A project seeking memories of fallen heroes

Hi Friends,

You don't hear from me much because my life is blissfully boring! I have been operating on children and seeing patients in clinic at our military treatment facility in Texas. Recently I was given the privilege to care for the child of a friend with whom I deployed to Iraq in 2005. His child is strong and healthy, and thankfully shows every sign of being on the road to recovery after this illness. It humbles me so to know that someone who has seen me at my best and worst during the trials of combat surgery thinks I'm good enough to trust with their precious child. In my odd view of the world, it means more than a stranger choosing me to care for their child, based merely on the authority given to me by title and training, not specific knowledge of me as an individual. (But it's not about me, it's about the child getting well, by whatever route necessary!)

Today I was contacted by Izumi Tanaka, a producer who is working on a very touching project. I will let his words explain:

For the last several months, I have been working with a distinguished Japanese fashion photographer, Hisashi Shimizu, on a very meaningful project. It is a photographic documentary portraying the memories of American soldiers who lost their lives in the current war in Iraq. It is not intended to be a political statement but to be personal. We have so far visited 13 families throughout California. They all graciously allowed us to their home to photograph their private space, and most in turn, thanked us for letting the memories of their children captured so they will not be forgotten. Some sample of what we've photographed so far can be viewed at: http://www.sunnyside-media.com/Projects/Memories Hisashi will be publishing and exhibiting this body of work in Japan, and I'm personally hoping he can get it exhibited in the U.S. as well. Today, I'm writing you as I am planning the last phase of the photography in March and need help in identifying some families who might be willing to be a part of this project. Do you know anyone, who lost their children or spouse in Iraq? If so, you can forward this message to them or let me know so I can contact them directly. I also have much more detailed explanation of what we are doing to provide for people who are interested. Thank you for your help.

Sincerely, Izumi

I do not know Izumi or Hisashi personally, but speaking as an individual, I have visited their website and find the photographs to be very personal, haunting, and intense, in spite of being views of everyday homes that could very well be our own. If anyone reading this wishes to contact Izumi, his contact information is below. On his website is a fascinating feature of a documentary relating the life of a gang member rebuilding his life after being paralyzed.

Izumi Tanaka
Producer/Director
Sunnyside Pictures Documentary,
"PUSHIN' FORWARD"
http://www.pushin-forward.net/
310.749.9091
izumi@sunnysidepix.com