IXXI

Photographer/Videographer Neil London was living in Palm Beach Florida September 11, 2001. As he watched the morning news, the first plane hit The World Trade Center. He remembers the horror vividly and was compelled to call associate Jake Stone in New York to try and photo document the event. The morning's events only got worse and as he and Jake kept communicating the second plane hit. Jake made it to the roof of his apartment bulding on The Lower East Side of Mahattan and was able to photograph the buildings before they fell, then headed downtown on foot to help.

A good friend Tid Griffin was in the subway when the buildings fell and was the first we know of to set up an emergecy triage station on Broadway and Fulton Street. London was in New York a few months earlier and had done a photoshoot at The World Trade Center where some of the resulting photos were auctioned on Ebay to help raise funds for the American Red Cross and The Green Cross to help the 911 victims and their families.

Years earlier during Desert Storm Desert Shield, London produced a series of television commercials to help the American Red Cross replentish funds to The Gulf Crisis Releif Fund, chaired by Ronald Regan at that time. He still remembers today how quickly the first Gulf War was over with the tactical deployment of strategic technology that quickly ended that initial conflict. No matter what your politics are, we all have or had a friend or family member in the current armed forces defending our country. The ongoing efforts of these brave men and women should be acknowledged and BEAUTY BATTALION is an effort to send good-will and tidings from local men, women and businesses here in the USA to those individuals.

During Workd War II the "Pin-Up" was just such an effort where each soldier had his favrorite female actress or model's pictue cut out of a magazine and taped into their locker. Wives and girlfriends sent photos often for inspiration and love, two emotions that are obviously needed during times of such tragedy. Our intial group is made up of women from Palm Beach County who dedicated their time and efforts to make a soldier feel that they are not forgotten and in fact, are in the hearts and minds of Americans everyday. If you or anyone you know would like to post a supportive photo for our troops please email it to info@beautybattalion.com andwe'll post it in a special public image section on beautybattalion.com