Photos

The Legacy Lives On

A group of pilots and former pilots places a nickel at the graveside of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard "Gene" Smith Jr. during an interment ceremony at Marks Cemetery in Marks, Mississippi, Jan. 23, 2026. The gesture is a fighter pilot tradition honoring a fallen comrade's final flight. Smith was interred with full military honors following a celebration of life service held earlier that day. (U.S. Air Force photo by [U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Jessica Blocher)

PHOTO BY: Senior Airman Jessica Blocher
VIRIN: 260123-F-XG435-1412.JPG
FULL SIZE: 0.7 MB
Additional Details

CAMERA

NIKON Z 6_2

LENS

VR 70-200mm f/2.8G

APERTURE

71/10

SHUTTERSPEED

1/320

ISO

400

IMAGE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN

Read More

This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.

Go to Gallery