GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -
There's someone missing from this family portrait, but Jessica Holmes and her children showed their best smiles anyway.
Holmes has had to adjust after her husband was deployed overseas. It hasn't been easy, but she says they're getting through it.
"It's different. You know, I'm fortunate enough to stay at home with the kids, but to not have your helpmate come home in the evening and with Gecolby being little, you don't want him to not know who dad is, so it's hard at times. But I'm lucky to have good kids," Holmes said.
Since this military father, like so many others, won't be home for the holidays, his family is sending a little piece of Christmas to him.
"When we got the email that the USO Gulf Coast was sponsoring this, it was really exciting to see that we could get some really nice pictures made to send to him. He's going to be thrilled to have them," Holmes said.
Felice Kelly, US Gulf Coast Deputy Director orchestrated the photo shoot. She was joined by professional photographers John Bentham and Rick Gerrity. Bentham based in New York and Gerrity, based in New Jersey said volunteering there time was an absolute pleasure. That same joy was felt by the USO.
"It's really an awesome opportunity for military families to stay connected. During the holiday season is one of the toughest times to be geographically separated from your family, so to be able to have the portraits, to be able to connect that gap for them is priceless," Kelly said.
Right now the Wheelers rely on tools like Skype to speak with one another, but it's pretty safe to say that these photos will be worth a thousand words.
About 40 families showed up for the free holiday shots Saturday. The nationwide project will continue Sunday from 10 to 4 at the Gulfport Hilton Garden Inn. Walk-ins are accepted.
Copyright 2011 WLOX. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WLOX, a Raycom Media Station. 