Photographer Chuck Almarez of Clifton Forge is a Vietnam veteran who wanted to give something back to the men and women who are currently serving in the military.

Almarez, who teaches photography courses for Dabney S. Lancaster Community College came up with the idea for "Operation Home Front" after running into National Guard member Louis Pendleton of Clifton Forge, who had been on Almarez's tee-ball team as a youngster and was attending classes at DSLCC.

"Operation Home Front" provides high quality and unique portraits of service member and their families taken at the "Fire and Light Gallery" a Clifton Forge studio owned and operated by Almarez and Glen Bryant.

All service members - active, reserves and National Guard - and their immediate family qualify to receive a free studio session that includes a 5 by 7 print of the service member in uniform and a 5 by 7 print of the family.

Families of deployed service members also qualify for a free studio portrait session every quarter during the deployment. Images from those sessions will be posted online for the service member to view. Service members who are deployed and separted from their families will be able to access and share all their portraits from the studio Web site www.fireandlightgallery.com.

"It's just one way of saying thanks and recognizing them for their time, effort and sacrifice in defense of our nation," adds Almarez.

Bryant, who is a blacksmith, made a commemorative knife that was hand-forged from a railroad spike and mounted on a cherry plaque that came from a tree that feel on his property on Iron Gate Hill. It was presented to the unit during their Family Day gathering.

Since the unit was being deployed Almarez photgraphed about 40 National Guard members and their families there instead of the studio. "Probably half of our unit had their pictures taken," said Pendleton. "It was a very thoughtful gift for the soldiers. Everybody loved it."

Any members of the armed forces interested in participating in "Operations Home Front" may call the studio at 540-862-1718.

Source: Virginia Review, Saturday, January 9, 2010.