I was asked Monday afternoon to catch a 10 p.m. flight that night. We flew all night with three layovers and a 2 hour drive and arrived in Grundy at 11:00 a.m Tuesday morning. With less than an hour or so of rest, or as much as one can get in an airplane seat, we checked into our hotel, quickly changed and went to the funeral home to see if we could meet with the family at the private viewing for Ethan.
The people of Grundy were some of the kindest, nicest people I have had the pleasure to work with during my many years as a photographer. Under such trying circumstances when others would have been rightfully less than accommodating to a bunch of outsiders, who had travelled all the way from Utah, they went out of there way to be respectful, helpful and kind.
Joe Stacy, father to the deceased little boy Ethan, welcomed us with all the manners of a southern gentleman and allowed us to document this emotional time. I can't say enough about how difficult it must have been for him to lose his son under such trying circumstances; and yet to be so poised and gracious to everyone who descended on this small town nestled in the rolling hills of West Virginia is a testament to his character and upbringing.
I want to share with you a few of the images I was privileged to make as I documented this tragic story. I will be forever grateful to Joe Stacy and his fiance Becky Elswick, the owners and directors of the Grundy Funeral Home, Curtis Mullins and his father T.J. and the people of Grundy and Richlands, Virginia for their grace under such trying circumstances.
In these type of situations all you are trying to do is document these events for the thousands of people who have followed this story around the country. You work hard to be respectful to those whose story you are trying to tell. None of these photographs were taken without their approval. There were several moments that were not photographed, at their request.
Ethan was laid to rest in Richlands, Virginia on the highest hill top of the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery overlooking beautiful lush green hills and valley's stretching eastwards. My hope is that all those touched by these tragic events can find a measure of peace and comfort and that time will bind up and heal their wounds.
I will let the photos speak for themselves.
rest in peace ethan.....
