Supporting Veterans Through Three Generations

As a journalist I am always looking for stories. The ones I enjoy the most are never the ones I go looking for. Originally, I went to Ashland to cover the annual Ham and Bean dinner at the American Legion. It was going to be a cute story about a community event, but not one with any emotional context. After arriving I began speaking with folks in order to get a feel for the place. It is when out talking with people that one usually finds the best stories. That’s how I came to know Belva Crane and her family’s tale.

How do you show in pictures a family’s generational connection to a place? Belva met her husband, Frank Crane, at the American Legion and raised two generations in and around the same building. The idea was good, but, unfortunately, I do not believe I was able to capture it in pictures. I hope the text fills in the blanks. Above, I have posted two outtakes that I like quite a lot. The first resembles the published portrait of Belva, her daughter Marla and her granddaughter Heather, but with a different perspective. The second is a photograph of Belva and Heather as they are about to open up the cedar chest in Belva’s bedroom where she keeps all the family heirlooms such as her wedding and prom dresses. Thanks for stopping by. Zachary Siebert