WWII Wedding Sheds New Light On The Present

While on a cruise in the Bahama’s, I awoke to a beautiful morning view of the ocean from our cabin window. As I gazed reflectively out sea, suddenly, the vastness of the ocean seemed to consume me. It was as if the ocean revealed to my mind the stories of yesteryear on the sea. Thoughts of wars, pirates, romance, and perils flooded my mind. My senses were heightened in that moment. The morning light streaming through the clouds seemed to reveal the people of the past looking down from heaven.

I was taken back to times of my grandfather's naval ship the USS Biloxi, and of him fighting for our country during WWII. This was all in stark contrast of my current experience on a luxury cruise liner. The scripture Ecclesiastes 3:8 A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace came to mind and comforted me before the guilt of enjoying my cruise settled in.

The uncertainty of war intensified the romance between my grandmother and grandfather and they married when he came home on a three day pass. They eagerly looked forward to receiving letters from each other during that time never knowing if it would be the last. He then returned to his ship for several more months until the war finally ended and they were reunited at last.

Upon returning from vacation, I was inspired to create this composite by combining our vacation photos of my son and I with my grandparents wedding portrait during WWII. A letter from my grandmother can be seen near the shore in the image. It includes actual images of his ship and planes on board the hanger.

Compositing these images means many things to me. A sense that my grandparents are still with us and that I was a part of the past It will always remind me in good times, and in bad that there is a time for everything. A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Lori Jagow is a Buffalo area wedding&family photogtapher