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HONOR AFTER THE FALL Marines based in Colorado have marched into the darkness of grief 18 times since the start of the Iraq war to help the families of their fallen comrades shoulder the loss and honor their sacrifice. Major Steve Beck prepares for the final inspection of 2nd Lt. James J. Cathey's body, only days after notifying Cathey's wife of the Marine's death in Iraq. SMONE
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Major Steve Beck and another Marine approach the family home of 2nd Lt. James Cathey, preparing to escort the Catheys to the airport to receive their son's body. Five days earlier, the shadows of Casualty Assistance Call Officers followed the same path, carrying the news no military family ever wants to hear. SMONE
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When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. SMONE
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At the first sight of her husband's flag-draped casket, Katherine Cathey broke into uncontrollable sobs, finding support in the arms of Major Steve Beck. When Beck first knocked on her door in Brighton to notify her of her husband's death, she glared at him, cursed him, and refused to speak to him for more than an hour. Over the next several days, he helped guide her through the grief. By the time they reached the tarmac, she wouldn't let go. SMONE
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Members of the Marine Air Control Squadron 23 stationed at Buckley Air Force Base escort the casket of Marine Lance Corporal Evenor Herrera to a gravesite in Eagle. Since the beginning of the war, Marines from Buckley have overseen funerals for 16 active duty Marines; 12 died in Iraq, four died in traffic accidents. SMONE
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Blanca Stibbs, cq, center, rests her head on her husband David Stibbs' shoulder as a Marine honor guard folds the flag that draped their son Lance Corporal Evenor Herrera's casket during a burial service at Sunset View Cemetery in Eagle on Friday, August 19, 2005. (TODD HEISLER/ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS) ***Blanca Stibbs, David Stibbs***
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Gilma Miranda, cq, the aunt of fallen Marine Lance Corporal Evenor Herrera, and close friend Kelly Matias stroke his hand during a last visitation at Community United Methodist Church in Eagle on August 19, 2005. SMONE
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Jo Burns cries as she and her husband Bob opened the boxes containing their son's uniforms from Iraq - boxes delivered by Maj. Steve Beck.
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Katherine Cathey pressed her pregnant belly to her husband's casket, moaning softly. The baby, due Jan. 1, will be named James Jeffrey Cathey Jr. SMONE
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The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of JIM. SMONE
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As his son's funeral neared, Jeff Cathey's tears rarely stopped. He often found comfort in the men who shared his son's uniform.
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Before leaving for a funeral in December, Maj. Steve Beck took time fora hug with his children, Steve, 2, and twins Lindsey and Abigail, 4. His job as Casualty Assistance Calls officer means taking vast amounts oftime from his own family to care for others. SMONE
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Gang member known as
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Gang members hang out at the courtyard inside El Hoyon prison, in Escuintla, Guatemala. rdgab
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A forensics officer examines the tied hands of one of two adolescent males found tortured and disfigured by the side of the road in Guatemala City. rdgab
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A policeman walks across the bodies of gang members killed during prision riot in Guatemala City. rdgab
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DEAD INMATE
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The decapitated head of a gang member is seen on the ground after a prision riot in Guatemala City. rdgab
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A morgue worker looks at Elder Jacinto Hernandez, 19, member of the gang
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The remains of a family that was murdered by gang members are exhumed in Guatemala City. According to police the family was killed when they refused to pay a 'war tax' extortion. rdgab
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ALVIZURIZ
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Ingrid Liliana Castro holds the bloody t-shirt of her husband, Mario Roberto Diaz, who disappeared after being wounded by unknown assailants in Guatemala City. rdgab
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A member of the gang Mara Salvatrucha eats a candle during the celebrations of Maximon in San Andres Itzapa, Guatemala. rdgab
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Doctors told Maryanne Martin in December they could do nothing more about her cancer. Her husband Darell vowed to care for her until the end.
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Maryanne rests after struggling with Darell's tie before their son Mathew's wedding. Wanting her to participate, Darell gauged her medicine so she could be awake.
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Confused, Maryanne accidently flushed an object down a toilet and flooded the bathroom. Jonathan Martin, their youngest son, points to where Darell missed a spot.
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Maryanne falls asleep from her medicines as Darell reminisces quietly with her over their first meeting and how she has been his
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Darell is comforted by a nurse as EMTs take Maryanne to a hospice. Maryanne's condition had worsened and become more than he could handle.
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Darell weeps in the kitchen, realizing his dream of Maryanne dying at home will never happen.
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Darell and his daughter Joanna set up roll-out beds in Maryanne's hospice room. Family and friends all took turns staying overnight with Maryanne.
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Joanna Martin curls up next to her mother in her bed. Professional hospice care improved Maryanne's lucidity and the quality of time spent with her.
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Jonathan laughs with Darell and his brother Matthew at a comedy on the television while Maryanne lays in bed chatting with friends alongside her.
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Darell comforts Maryanne after she woke him with cries of pain and fear. He comforts and prays over her until her medicine takes effect.
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Friend John Oates comforts Darell as he weeps over Maryanne's unconscious form and agonizes over leaving to attend another son's out-of-town wedding, unsure if she'll be alive when he returns. agonizing over leaving her to attend his son Jeremy's wedding and not knowing if she will be alive when he returns.
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Maryanne died a week after the wedding. surrounded by family. Filling the feeders outside of the sunroom where she enjoyed bird watching, Darell begins life without his wife.
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In the small, dried-up coalmining town of Trammel, VA, dealings in diverted prescription drugs is rampant. rjlar
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A woman snorts a Lortab pill in her trailer home in rural Dickenson County, VA. rjlar
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In a heavy rain, an ambulance speeds along a highway near the Kentucky-Virginia border. rjlar
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McMinn County Sheriff deputy B.J. Johnson looks at equipment in the bath tub used to manufacture methamphetamine inside of an Athens, TN, trailer home. rjlar
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Neighbors Kay Davis and Mary Clayton watch as a methamphetamine lab is disassembled by McMinn County Sheriff's deputies at an Athens, TN, trailer home. rjlar
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A photo on a soot covered wall remains in a Bowling Green, KY, home believed destroyed by a meth lab explosion. rjlar
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Brenda Drennon sits crying on the ground while being arrested on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine using anhydrous ammonia, at her home in Knoxville, TN. rjlar
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Marylin Kennedy and her sister Brenda Drennon are arrested on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine in Knoxville, TN, in what used to be traditional moonshine country. rjlar
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John Holbrook and others have formed a grassroots movement to respond to the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in remote Southwest Virginia. rjlar
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Former methamphetamine addict Charlotte Sanders (second from left) and others pray with her incarcerated sister Donna Harris during a service of God's Jail Ministry at the Putnam County Jail in Cookeville, TN. rjlar
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Kenneth Meredith, Jr., is recovering from years of addiction to methamphetamine. Once an expert
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SHELPMAN
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The first day of kindergarten is a major milestone for children and their parents. Samantha Lopez wipes away a tear as she drops off her five-year-old daughter Sabrina Lopez on her first day of kindergarten. jwja
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Gustavo Saldivar, 5, and Justin Martinez, 5, cry as they are led to their classroom on the first day of kindergarten. jwja
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Sarah Gan's kindergarten class practices lining up in the hall for the first time on the first day of kindergarten. jwja
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Angel Thompson, 5, counts her fingers during a math lesson on the first day of kindergarten. jwja
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Kindergarten teacher Sarah Gan teaches her students the bathroom rules. jwja
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Matthew Echeverria, 5, teases Matthew Paredes, 5, at the lunch table on the first day of kindergarten. jwja
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Vicky Sanchez takes a nap during quiet time on the first day of kindergarten. jwja
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Desirae Mendez, 5, practices writing her name with a crayon on the first day of kindergarten. jwja
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Manuel Mendoza, 5, rejoices in recess on the first day of kindergarten. jwja
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