Last week, Daren Hidalgo was killed in Afghanistan. Today, his friends and the Dallastown community gathered to honor his memory.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. A memorial service was held Sunday, Feb. 27, at Dallastown Area High School to honor Army First Lt. Daren Hidalgo, who graduated from the school in 2005 and was killed in action in Afghanistan on Sunday, Feb. 20.
Photographing this service was difficult for several reasons. First, I felt like a jerk walking around with a camera while people were grieving, so I did my best to exercise the utmost discretion. Second, I initially didn’t know if his family would be attending (they weren’t — they’re in Wisconsin). Third, I didn’t know who among the hundreds of attendees were the ones who knew him best and were most affected by his death… but was able to find out.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. A memorial service was held Sunday, Feb. 27, at Dallastown Area High School to honor Army First Lt. Daren Hidalgo, who graduated from the school in 2005 and was killed in action in Afghanistan on Sunday, Feb. 20.
After making the above picture, introducing myself to Phil and almost crying myself because of his immense grief, I then felt even more like a jerk, making camera clicks during the memorial service.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Levi Mattas of Lewisberry and Phil Bayliss of Philadelphia smile as Ali Merrifield of York Township recalls fond memories of their classmate and friend Daren Hidalgo, during a memorial service for Hidalgo at Dallastown Area High School on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011. The three friends were among several speakers at the service who gave witness to Hidalgo's life. Members of Hidalgo's family, who now live in Wisconsin, were not present and will hold their own service on Wednesday, March 2.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Members of the Dallastown Area High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps unfold the American flag in preparation for the playing of taps at the end of a memorial service held for Dallastown alumnus and Army First Lt. Daren Hidalgo on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011.
But it was really wonderful, seeing veterans, members of the Dallastown community and Daren’s old high school friends gather to honor his memory.
Words and Light 
[…] Comments « Remembering Dallastown’s fallen […]
You should not feel like a jerk. Your beautiful pictures showed Americans what sacrifices our troops are making every day in Iraq and Afghanistan. You showed his friends’ grief so others will take a moment to remember them in this time of pain and pray to their god for the safety of all our troops so another family doesn’t have to go through this loss. You also brought solace to those of us half way around the world who knew Daren, but are in theater and can’t attend his memorial. So, thank you Chris for the photos.