If I weren't a photojournalist, I can't honestly say I would have attended a Memorial Day ceremony Monday. It's far too easy to sleep in on what would normally be an additional day off, or head off to the family barbecue an hour early. But that's exactly why I love my job: It forces me to experience and appreciate things I might otherwise pass on by. For those who have served our country or lost a loved one in war, no other day is more important.

As I approached a veteran in the crowd at Muskego's ceremony and asked him for his name, he actually thanked me for taking his picture. It caught me off guard for two reasons: First, it's rare for people to thank me for taking their photos. Some actually run away. Second, he shouldn't have been the one doing the thanking — it was HIS day to be recognized.

Nikon D2H, 170 mm, 400 ISO, f2.8, 1/5000, Manual
Joseph Streff (center), a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 488, salutes Monday, May 26, 2008, at a Memorial Day ceremony, held at Highland Memorial Park, New Berlin. Mayor Jack Chiovatero and Senator Mary Lazich addressed the crowd.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 320 ISO, f2.8, 1/8000, Manual
Dennis Duran, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8171, watches the red, white and blue balloons float into the air Saturday, May 24, 2008, during Muskego's Memorial Day Ceremony, held at ProHealth Care Regency, Muskego. The ceremony included several readings, songs, a Memorial Wreath, a salute by the Rifle Squad, and remarks by Tracy Snead, Muskego's Common Council president.

Nikon D2H, 200 mm, 320 ISO, f2.8, 1/4000, Manual
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8171 bow their heads in prayer Saturday, May 24, 2008, during Muskego's Memorial Day Ceremony, held at ProHealth Care Regency, Muskego. The ceremony included several readings, songs, a Memorial Wreath, a salute by the Rifle Squad, and remarks by Tracy Snead, Muskego's Common Council president.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 400 ISO, f2.8, 1/1250, Manual
Patryk Schlomann, 12, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 93, out of New Berlin, grabs a balloon Monday, May 26, 2008, at a Memorial Day ceremony, held at Highland Memorial Park, New Berlin. Names of deceased veterans were attached to the balloons and released at the conclusion of the ceremony. Mayor Jack Chiovatero and Senator Mary Lazich addressed the crowd.

If you give 10 rolls of duct tape to a room full of feisty middle school students, they're probably going to ... tape you to a wall. And then throw pies at your face.

God bless Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School. He actually let them do it. I can't say I was surprised — every time I step into the school, Matt seems to be bouncing around the hallways with a big smile on his face. I never doubted he'd be up for a laugh or two, even at his own expense.

"This isn't as fun as I thought it was going to be," Lesar said Friday morning as whip cream pies were being flung at his face. But it's all for a good cause, he reminded himself. The students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Heart, an organization that helps fight heart disease and stroke.

"Leave him up there for the rest of the day!" one of the seventh-grade girls jokingly said to a friend. The students succeeded in securing Lesar to the wall, using nearly every inch of the 1,200 feet of tape they were given.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, WITH FLASH, Manual
Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School, Franklin, gets taped to the wall Friday, May 23, 2008, by top fundraisers for the Hoops for Heart challenge. Forest Park students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Hearts, which helps fight heart disease and strokes. Using 10 rolls of duct tape, the students succeeded in securing Lesar. As he hung from the wall, the students then threw numerous pies in Lesar's face.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, WITH FLASH, Manual
Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School, Franklin, gets taped to the wall Friday, May 23, 2008, by top fundraisers for the Hoops for Heart challenge. Forest Park students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Hearts, which helps fight heart disease and strokes. Using 10 rolls of duct tape, the students succeeded in securing Lesar. As he hung from the wall, the students then threw numerous pies in Lesar's face.

Nikon D2H, 20 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, WITH FLASH, Manual
Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School, Franklin, gets taped to the wall Friday, May 23, 2008, by top fundraisers for the Hoops for Heart challenge. Forest Park students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Hearts, which helps fight heart disease and strokes. Using 10 rolls of duct tape, the students succeeded in securing Lesar. As he hung from the wall, the students then threw numerous pies in Lesar's face.

Nikon D2H, 145 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, WITH FLASH, Manual
After he was taped to the wall, Matt Lesar, principal at Forest Park Middle School, Franklin, gets slammed with whip cream pies Friday, May 23, 2008, by top fundraisers for the Hoops for Heart challenge. Forest Park students raised more than $2,000 for Hoops for Hearts, which helps fight heart disease and strokes. Using 10 rolls of duct tape, the students succeeded in securing Lesar.

This afternoon, for the very first time, I felt as though more people were eyeing up my hair instead of my camera.

Students, staff and parents at Ronald Reagan Elementary School, New Berlin, parted ways with their long locks during Reagan Gives Back Day. The ladies (and even one brave man) donated inches upon inches of hair to Locks of Love, an organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

It was great to see the girls grinning from ear to ear, in full realization they were doing something positive for those in need. I photographed three or four girls before I finally captured the priceless reaction below.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/125, Manual
Kaitlyn Fischer, a fourth-grader at Ronald Reagan Elementary School, New Berlin, reacts to having several inches of her hair cut off Friday, May 16, 2008, during a Locks of Love donation. The school held an assembly to celebrate Reagan Gives Back Day, where several students, as well as the school's principal, donated their hair. Locks of Love provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Michelle Moore was no more than a few weeks pregnant when she came down with a case of rubella, otherwise known as German measles. In fact, at the time, she didn't even know she was expecting.

The rash lasted just over a day, but for Michelle's unborn child, the effects would last a lifetime.

That was 43 years ago. Today, Michelle's son, Michael, is completely dependent on his parents' care. Michael was born with rubella syndrome, a birth defect that can cause mental retardation.

Although she loves her son deeply, Michelle doesn't want other women to have to experience what she has gone through, she says.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/320, Manual
Michael Moore, of New Berlin, waits to begin his music therapy class Thursday, May 1, 2008, at the Goodwill Community Service Center, Waukesha. When Moore's mother, Michelle, was pregnant with Michael, she contracted rubella, otherwise known as the German measles, which caused Michael to contract rubella syndrome at birth.

A photographer really can't go wrong when a bright blue sky is your background.

I spent some time today at Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, where students and staff participated in High Interest Day. Activities included football, knitting, theater, bubble-blowing, fencing, French cooking, science experiments, and, of course, a rock wall.

Adventure Rock, located in Pewaukee, provided the climbing wall. These kids zipped up the wall faster than I could lift my camera. I tried rock climbing a couple times when I was living down in Australia, several years back. I think what made me check the sport off my list as a potential passion was when the instructor told us a horror story about forgetting to tie the rope to the stump at the top of the cliff and ... well ... gravity isn't very forgiving to forgetfulness.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 200 ISO, f6.3, 1/8000, Manual
Jake Schreiner, a seventh-grader at Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, rappels down a rock wall Friday, May 9, 2008, during the school's High Interest Day. The climbing wall was staffed by Adventure Rock, Pewaukee. Approximately 50 presenters helped the children experience various activities including football, knitting, theater, basketball, rock climbing, cooking and science fun.

Nikon D2H, 35 mm, 200 ISO, f2.8, 1/2500, Manual
A student at Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, rappels down a rock wall Friday, May 9, 2008, during the school's High Interest Day. The climbing wall was staffed by Adventure Rock, Pewaukee. Approximately 50 presenters helped the children experience various activities including football, knitting, theater, basketball, rock climbing, cooking and science fun.

As some of you may recall, we ran a story several months ago on the homecoming of Cpt. Tim Patterson. Patterson, a New Berlin resident and Franklin police officer, had just returned home after serving a year with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

As a follow-up to the initial story, I spent a little more time with Tim and his family as he readjusted to life back at home.

Please click on the photo below, which will direct you to an audio slideshow I produced. Be sure to check today's paper for John Schultz's complete story. Working with the Pattersons for the past couple of months has been a photographer's dream. Thank you, Tim, Margie and Abby, for sharing your story.

CLICK ...