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1025 GUZY PHOTOS

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Photographer Carol Guzy discussesthe stories behind her images

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By Katie Yaeger

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One of the seven recipients of the Missouri Honor Medal this year, Carol Guzy, givesbackground information about five images she's taken for The Washington Post.

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Compiled by, CE Katie Yaeger,ne:monicaCOLUMBIA — In her professional career, CarolGuzy has witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall and has documented the state of NewOrleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Guzy, a four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist for The Washington Post, isone of seven recipients of the Missouri Honor Medal this year. The award, which issponsored by the Missouri School of Journalism, honors journalists and strategiccommunicators for their career-long service and dedication to the industry.

Guzy's online portfolio contains images from around the world — some of grief anddevastation, others of joy and relief.

Below, Guzy highlights five photographs and discusses the stories behind her images.

"War and Innocence"CAROL GUZY/The Washington PostMay 3, 1999 | Kukes, Albania

Agim Shalacq, 2 years old, is passed -thru-+through+ the barbed wire fence into thehands of grandparents at -the-+a+ camp run by +the+ United Arab Emiratescq inKukes, Albaniacq. The members of the Shala family were reunited here after fleeingKosovocq. The grandparents had just crossed the border at Morinicq. The large Shalafamily left Prizrencq during the conflict. The relatives who just arrived had to stayoutside the camp until shelter was available. The next day+,+ all +of+ the family hadtents inside. When the peace agreement was signed+,+ they returned to Prizren to findtheir homes only mildly damaged.

They came by the thousands. Ragged and weary. Wailing women carrying children withdistant stares. The elderly with quivering chins, trying to hold back -the-tears. Someinjured. Many terrified. -Serb-+Serbian+ aggression was unleashed on ethnic Albanianswith a vengeance as NATO bombs began to fall -this-+that+ spring. It was called ethniccleansing.

The flood of humanity into neighboring Albania and Macedonia was massive. Harriedaid workers tried to keep up with the flow. Tent camps were set up as refugees waited in

limbo for their uncertain future. The camps became small communities with evidence ofthe tenacity of the human spirit in the strong family bonds that endured the hardships.

With the signing of a peace treaty, NATO arrived in Kosovo to jubilant crowds. As Serbtroops pulled out+,+ the liberation of Kosovo was -under way-+underway+. Ignoringwarnings of land mines and booby traps, the rejoicing refugees made their way backhome. But for many, home was a burned and blackened pile of rubble and mass funeralsfor loved ones killed. A price dearly paid for freedom.

"Freedom"Photo by Carol Guzy/The Washington Post/1989 | Berlin, Germany

“Permission will be given at short notice ­[for]­+(for)+ private journeys ­[to theWest]­+(to the West)+.” — Guenter Schabowskicq, Communist propaganda official

On -November-+Nov.+ 9, 1989+,+ East German leaders made one of the mostmomentous political decisions in recent memory. The opening of the Berlin Wallcqmarked the end of the Cold Warcq. With the fall of the Berlin Wall came unbridledexultation and the reunification of families and friends long held apart by this hatedsymbol of communism, division and repression. The first part of the wall removed wasat Potsdamer Platzcq. The crowd bears witness to one of the most important historical

events of our time. East Germans poured into West Berlin, many for the first time intheir lives tasting freedom.

"Bare Essentials"Photo by Carol Guzy/TheWashington Post/1997 | Mali,West Africa

Two -Nomad-+nomadic+women carry a baby from theirtent in the desert sands of Mali.Desert wanderers, the -Nomadic-+nomadic+ Tuaregcqpeople of Africa live isolatedfrom society. Their life is one oftradition, spent roaming theSahara by camel with theirmeager belongings. They have notelevision, no toilets, notelephone. Most have neverheard of a fax machine, neverseen a photograph. It is a life ofsimplicity spent in the brutalheat of an unforgiving land. A lifehanded down from generation togeneration -over-+throughout+the centuries. As one young -Nomad-boy said, "The world is

where I -am”.-+am."

+Some information was obtained from "Nomads by Choice," a three­part WashingtonPost series by Stephen Buckley.+*“The World is Where I Am” (From Washington Poststory by Stephen Buckley) Be sure to credit him for these words: Desert wanderers, theNomadic Tuareg people of Mali live isolated from society. Their life is one of traditionspent roaming the Sahara by camel with their meager belongings. They have notelevision, no toilets, no telephone. Most have never heard of a fax machine, never seena photograph. They are not affected by the economic globalization of the rest of theworld. Their wealth is measured by the number of animals they own. It is the life they

choose. But they have paid a price for their conscious disconnection. They are among theworld’s poorest people, unable to educate and provide health care for their children,scratching it through one more day, always one drought away from tragedy. In manyways their lives mirror those of Africans who live on the world’s poorest continent. Thedifference is that many of those Africans long for an economic escape from a torturousexistence. Most nomads say they do not. They are content with their life of simplicityspent in the brutal heat of an unforgiving land. A land of thorn trees and sandstormswhere the ground is sprinkled with the bones of burros. They follow water and grass andmove every frew weeks. A month in one area is an eternity. It is a life handed down fromgeneration to generation over the centuries. Ahmid Mohamed, 15 years old, tends hisfamily’s sheep at their camp 15 miles north of Timbuktu. He says he wonders at timeswhat school would be like and about the airplane that crosses over in the sky. Hewonders about driving a car, if it is different than riding a camel. “I enjoy my life,” hesays. “I like taking care of the camels. I don’t know the world. The world is where I am”

"Wounded Messengers"Photo by Carol Guzy/TheWashington Post/2000 | NewYork

"Men hate each other becausethey fear each other. They feareach other because they don'tknow each other. They don'tknow each other because theydon't communicate with eachother. They don't communicatewith each other because they areseparated from each other." — ­Dr.­Martin Luther King­,­ Jr.

With the tiny face of an old soul,-four year old-+4-year-old+Memunatu Mansaraycq bearswitness to the atrocities inflictedon society’s most innocent. Shethrows her one arm up in glee ona ferry ride near the Statue ofLiberty during a fundraiser. Shetestified at a House -

Subcommitte-+Subcommittee+ on Africa hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington+,+ -DC-+D.C.,+ where the group of amputees from Sierra Leone's civil war gave testimonyabout their ordeals. People broke down in tears at the sight of such brutality.

Imagine the innocence of a child. Imagine that child trembling in terror as her parentsare savagely killed before her eyes+,+ and is then ordered to put her arm on the rootsof a cotton tree and watches as it is cut off with a crude machete. Some mercifully faintwith the first cut, others bleed to death, and those -that-+who+ survive are haunted+for+ the rest of their lives by the memories. The rebels in Sierra Leone used thisparticular form of brutality as a means to intimidate the civilian population. Theyoungest of victims suffered atrocities in a conflict they did not yet even comprehend.They were taken from the harsh life of an amputee camp in Freetown and introducedinto another world. Dr. Matthew Mirones, a -NY-+New York+ prosthetic manufacturer,

read about their plight and was so moved +that+ he decided to start a program todonate artificial limbs to the victims. The first group of eight+, which included DambaKoromacq and Memunatu Mansaray,+ arrived in Washington, -DC-+D.C.,+ in -Sept-+September+ 2000-, including Damba Koroma and Memuna Mansaray-.

They came in frilly pink dresses and dire expressions. The story of Sierra Leone’s warvictims chronicles their physical and psychological rehabilitation, their assimilation intoAmerican society and the tenderness that has surrounded and nourished them. Thegroup of eight amputees traveled to the United States by the humanitarian act of a NewYork doctor with a desire to fit them with limbs and opportunity. They had endured aparticular brand of rebel brutality+,+ yet the spirit they maintained in spite of theatrocities profoundly touched their caregivers. Limbs had been amputated+,+ but notvitality. The love that surrounds them transcends both racial and cultural barriers tomend wounds inflicted by man’s inhumanity. These individuals put a face on a tragedyshared by so many in their homeland and highlight the challenges they still face. It is aradiant example of the greater good that can be accomplished by the small acts of a fewcompassionate hearts that are determined to make a difference — one person at a time.-The story of Sierra Leone’s war victims chronicles their physical and psychologicalrehabilitation, their assimilation into American society and the tenderness that hassurrounded and nourished them. The group of eight amputees traveled to the UnitedStates by the humanitarian act of a New York doctor with a desire to fit them with limbsand opportunity. They had endured a particular brand of rebel brutality yet the spiritthey maintained in spite of the atrocities profoundly touched their caregivers. Limbshad been amputated but not vitality. The love that surrounds them transcends bothracial and cultural barriers to mend wounds inflicted by man’s inhumanity. Simplymeeting the children has brought people to tears with the realization of such barbaricacts on society’s most innocent of victims. The story of Sierra Leone’s -ten-year-+10-year+ civil war had been published in the -US-+U.S.+ media+,+ yet many remainunaware. It is a tiny country in West Africa that has been off the map of concern. Theseemingly endless stories of turmoil and chaos can cause the world community to put onblinders. There seems to be no solution for the violence and people turn away infrustration. Americans, with a new awareness of terrorism, may now feel a morepersonal relevance to this story. In Sierra Leone+,+ the awareness of terrorism beganlong ago. There is a fragile peace now+,+ but thousands of amputees still languish intheir country. This saga portrays the eternal adage of triumph over adversity. It is apositive vehicle to address a horrific issue. People seem better able to emotionallyembrace these children than the images of horror and abject poverty from their

homeland. Memuna’s eyes bear witness to past sorrows+,+ but also to the meaning ofgrace. These individuals put a face on a tragedy shared by so many in their homelandand highlight the challenges they still face. It is a radiant example of the greater goodthat can be accomplished by the small acts of a few compassionate hearts that aredetermined to make a difference - one child at a time. Some stories enlighten, educateor entertain and then there are those that simply must be told. In these dark andtroubled times, it is a story of hope.

"Silent Souls, Katrina's Animals"Photo by Carol Guzy/The Washington Post/2005 | New Orleans

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animalsare treated."  — Mahatma ­Ghandi -+Gandhi+

Faithfully waiting, a dog sits in quiet dignity amid unspeakable tragedy. Katrina’srampage through Louisiana and Mississippi left in its wake countless lives shattered,thriving communities reduced to ghost towns and precious mementos scattered amidthe debris. Family photographs spoke poignantly of the touchstones of life —

graduations, weddings and birthday celebrations. Smiling faces hanging on walls coveredwith mold and fading more with each passing day served as a painful metaphor for thedeath of a city. In many homes+,+ the display included a tenderly framed image of thebeloved family pet.

The tragedy’s most silent of victims were the animals. Thousands of them +were+abandoned when archaic policy forbade residents to evacuate with their pets. People leftfood and water+,+ believing they would return in a few days. Some were left behindwhen helicopters plucked the desperate from rooftops or when buses and boats refusedto take companion animals. Or, they were simply left behind. Tied to posts or locked inbathrooms with no hope of survival. Some were shot to death and etched into macabrescenes inside St. Bernard -parish-+Parish+cq schools meant to provide shelter. Manyperished in the floodwaters or died of thirst, hunger or disease. The ones who made itthrough the storm swam in endless circles in the surreal landscape that was once NewOrleans. Some waited patiently on their own destroyed porches for family that neverreturned.

The largest rescue effort in U.S. history ensued. A realization emerged from the chaosacknowledging the primal depth of the human/animal bond. Folks refused to leave theirsubmerged homes without their helpless friends. Sacrificing pets did not save people. Volunteers came from across the country. Average folks became heroes — a firefighterfrom New York who lived through the terrorist attacks on -September-+Sept.+ 11,2001; a housewife from Minnesota; an antique dealer from Nebraska; a nurse fromBaton Rouge. Many left for home only to return again and again, so emotionally movedby the plight of the animals that normal routine seemed insignificant. Power strugglesand controversies plagued the various groups+,+ but the common thread was thewelfare of the helpless, voiceless creatures that touched their hearts. Many declared thisto be the most important thing they will have done.

"It was the most moving and painful experience of my life, and I was changed," -stated-volunteer Jessica Higgins +said+.

First there was the barking. Rescuers broke down doors and smashed windows to savethe trapped creatures. As time passed+,+ the barks became weaker. Then there wasnothing. It's the "nothing" that made volunteers weep. Things impossible to photographwere the sickly stench and unearthly quiet. No birds, no insects, no sounds. From thesilence emerged shadows in the night. They hid under porches covered in toxic sludgeand reverted to survival instincts. Rescue workers found the resiliency of the animals a

poignant reminder of the profound strength of spirit that transcends adversity. Petswere found alive, locked in homes for -over-+more than+ seven weeks. They still roamthe empty neighborhoods, desperately choosing life.

Few dogs were spayed or neutered+,+ resulting in an escalating puppy explosion on thedeserted streets. An estimated -ninety-+90+ percent of the rescued dogs havepotentially deadly heartworm disease. Few had collars or tags that would have greatlyincreased the chance of reunification. -So far only-+Only+ a small percentage -have-+had+ found their people. -It wasn’t-+There weren't+ merely canine or feline facesfilling the shelter crates. Ferrets, snakes, parrots, fish, ducks, pigs, armadillos and evenan emu and tarantula made up the menagerie. Tears flowed every day. Tears of sorrowat the pitiful sight of an injured dog’s eyes still filled with trust. Tears of joy streamingdown the face of a young boy tenderly reunited with his pooch+,+ Emma. Tears of loss— enough to fill a broken levee.-Reader response -has-+had+ been was enormous+,+ asevidenced by record donations to welfare groups-,-+.+ -yet-+But+ according to aPoynter Institute study+,+ media attention -has-+had+ been scant and superficial+,+even though it appears glaringly apparent how intricately interwoven this issue hasbecome.

By almost all accounts, the suffering would have been lessened had authorities includedpets in shelter from the storm.-Federal law has now been changed with passing of thePETS act and legislation is pending in several states to avoid the same sad consequencesin future disasters.- -Leaving-+For many, leaving+ without their dearly loved animalcompanions was as unfathomable as leaving behind their children.

So many lost literally everything — +their+ home, job, friends, community andcherished possessions. For most, all that was left to hold onto was the family pet.

For some, that’s all they needed.