Soldiers' beautiful tribute to fallen hero's newborn
A fallen soldier who never had the chance to meet his baby girl has been honoured with a heartwarming tribute that shows his daughter surrounded by the love of those who served with him.
Just one week after finding out his wife Brittany Harris was pregnant with their first child, Army Specialist Christopher Harris was tragically killed in action by a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.
His daughter Christian Harris – who is not only named after him but is also the spitting image of him – was later born on March 17, the same day his battalion happened to arrive home.
And while her father may never be around to hold her, the love that Chris undoubtedly would have had for his daughter has now lived on through the men that served with him – her new extended family.
Earlier this year, a touching photoshoot they did with Christian in their arms went viral.
Photographer Kendra Phillips, of Pinehurst Photography, captured the beautiful moment and told Be it was truly bittersweet.
“I pictured Britt looking at her beautiful daughter, Christian who is the exact image of her father,” she said. “My heart ached as I imagined the joy and absolute sadness she would feel all at once.”
“Then I imagined his friends, who were with him when he died, putting their arms around them, supporting them and loving them…helping Christian know her father.”
After the images went viral Kendra admitted, “My inbox was flooded with requests from people wanting to support this Gold Star baby.”
So in order to honour the memory of Chris whose, ‘happiness was contagious’ Kendra has continued to share his story and set up a Go Fund Me page to assist Brittany to raise her daughter without him.
“While this story has been emotional for us from day one, we promised Britt that we’d help her tell the world about her hero. We took that promise very seriously and quickly wiped way any tears so we could do the best job possible to bring honour to this incredible family.”
“They’ve been a part of her life before she was even born and I know they’re going to be around for the rest of her life,” her mum Brittany told USA TODAY at the time, speaking of Chris’ army friends.
“No matter where the army takes them all, I will be able to show Christian how they all came together for her.”
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