The Unstoppable Taylor Morris Event

 I had the opportunity to cover a fund raising event for Taylor Morris in October. He, his story, and the friends and family surrounding him are truly an inspiration! It was an honor to meet you, and I thank you for your sacrifice.

Taylor Morris, left, and his girlfriend Danielle Kelly, center, thank guests and volunteers for all of their hard work in organizing the fund raising, Unstoppable Event at the Park Place Event Centre in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. Morris lost all four limbs in an IED blast while stationed in Afghanistan, as a Navy EOD technician, in May.  (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Nancy Swartzel, front right, snaps a photo of, from left to right, her son Dan Swartzel with Patrick McKenna, Cliff Sabo, all of Virginia Beach, Taylor Morris, a Cedar Falls native, and Nick Matics, of Virginia Beach, during the Unstoppable Event at the Park Place Event Centre in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. The men are five of the nine that were on Morris' Navy EOD team serving in Afghanistan for two and a half years. Morris lost all four limbs in an IED blast while stationed in Afghanistan, as a Navy EOD technician, in May. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

A large canvas rests on an easel in the lobby that guests are encouraged to sign with silver Sharpies, while Taylor Morris, second from right, and Danielle Kelly, right, greet guests at The Unstoppable Event fund raiser for Morris at the Park Place Event Centre in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. Morris lost all four limbs in an IED blast while stationed in Afghanistan, as a Navy EOD technician, in May.  (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

The Unpublished Draft

It seems that my blog is in need of some updating, and in beginning the process I have found a post in my drafts that was never published. So we will start with this one.

I am so thankful for my job, and that it affords me the opportunity to have a glimpse into so many different lives. This particular assignment was about a single father of three who is in the National Guard. It gave us a glimpse of their family time together.

 Clockwise from left, Abby Mauss,  5, Sam Mauss, 8, Mike Mauss and Kate Mauss, 9, all of Cedar Falls, gather at the table for dinner in their home on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Mauss is a single father who currently serves in the National Guard as a helicopter pilot.

 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Chief Warrant Office-3 Mike Mauss, left, reads with his daughter Abby Mauss, 5, right, in their Cedar Falls home on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Mauss is a single father who currently serves in the National Guard as a helicopter pilot.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

   

Chief Warrant Office-3 Mike Mauss, right, looks up historical facts on his phone while working with his daughter Kate Mauss, 9, left, on her homework in their Cedar Falls home on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Mauss is a single father who currently serves in the National Guard as a helicopter pilot.

 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

 

Chief Warrant Office-3 Mike Mauss, top, quizzes his daughters Abby Mauss, 5, front, and Kate Mauss, 9, left, on their math in their Cedar Falls home on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Mauss is a single father who currently serves in the National Guard as a helicopter pilot.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Making the Best of Things

Tara Patrie, right, makes holiday treats with her daughters, Raegen, 2, right, and Rylie, 7, left, in their home in Charles City, Iowa, on Monday, Dec. 20, 2010. The Patrie's will be celebrating the holidays differently this year as husband and father, Josh Patrie, serves on his first tour in Afghanistan.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

TORN

Aaron Baugher, left, holds his wife, Jeni Baugher, center, close as family friend, Ken Hockmuth, right, all of Ankeny, takes photographs as Aaron Baugher prepares to board his bus following the send-off ceremony for the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry at the UNI-dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Family and friends wave good-bye to loved ones being deployed following the send-off ceremony for the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry at the UNI-dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Family Night for Marine Recruits

Xavier Klimek, 10, left, Gabriel Fernandez, 6, center, and Landon Fernandez, 2, right are occupied with games as they attend the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Substation Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids Family Night event with their parents, for the parents and family members of new Marine recruits in the Northeast Iowa area, at the Waterloo Center for the Arts in Waterloo, Iowa, on Thursday, March 12, 2009.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Drill Instructor Sergeant Gregory Widmar, center, instructs new Marine recruits in a boot camp simulation given for parents and family members at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Substation Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids Family Night event held at the Waterloo Center for the Arts in Waterloo, Iowa, on Thursday, March 12, 2009 .
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Send-off Ceremony

An audience of family and friends fills Tama Hall for a send-off ceremony for the C-Company, 2-211th Aviation Battalion at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


Waterloo Mayor, Tim Hurley, speaks at the send-off ceremony for the DET 1 Company, Medical Evacuation, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion at Tama Hall in Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


Governor Chet Culver speaks before gathered friends and family in Tama Hall at Hawkeye Community College on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, at a send-off ceremony for the DET 1 Company, Medical Evacuation, 2-211th General Support, Aviation Battalion. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


At a send off ceremony for C-Co., 2-211th Aviation Battalion at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, Jim Russell of Cedar Falls, holds up his grandson Hunter, 1, to a bus window to have one final look at Hunter's father, Ben Russell before his departure on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


Lauren Weimer, 10, left, and Gabby Blakesley, 8, both of Waterloo, Iowa, rest curbside after sending off Gabby's father, Scott Blakesley with the C-Company, 2-211th Aviation Battalion, at a send-off ceremony held in Tama Hall at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)