This summer I had the honor of filming the celebration of life reception for Colonel Thomas "Torch" Darner, a retired Air Force colonel and test pilot, following his memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery. As someone who has loved aviation my whole life, this one meant a lot to me.
Arlington National Cemetery and the Reception
Tom's family had already booked another studio to cover the service at Arlington National Cemetery before they found us, and that crew handled the cemetery portion. Our role was the reception that followed, where his wife, five children, family, friends, and Air Force Academy classmates gathered to share stories and celebrate a life of faith, family, and flight.
Families planning a military funeral at Arlington often coordinate the cemetery service and the reception as two separate pieces, and that is where we came in.
Multicamera Coverage of Every Speaker
We ran multiple cameras for the entire reception so every speaker, every story, and every reaction in the room was captured. The open mic is where the real Tom came through, from his Test Pilot School classmates to the family members who knew him best, and I wanted the family to have all of it.
When the Venue Sound Fell Through
Right before things got started, it became clear the venue could not run the audio. I had my assistant bring out my own mixer and microphone, and we ran sound for the room ourselves. I was not going to let an American hero's service be done poorly. Everyone in the room could hear every speaker, and the recording came out clean.
Serving Families, Not Selling to Them
Funerals are not a place to capitalize on anyone. When a family is grieving, our job is to help and to serve, especially when that family is honoring an American hero. Tom flew fighters, became a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base, and helped bring the F-117 stealth fighter to life. Being trusted to capture his celebration of life for his widow and her family has been a true honor.
Helping Long After the Service
Weeks after the service, Tom's wife reached out because she wanted the videos on her family's YouTube channel. We set up a Zoom call and I uploaded everything for her so she didn't have to figure it out on her own. She was very happy with the final video, and making that part easier for her mattered just as much as the filming.
Military Funeral Video and Live Streaming in the DMV
If your family is planning a military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery or a memorial service anywhere in Northern Virginia, DC, or Maryland, we can film and live stream the celebration of life or reception so relatives who can't travel can still be part of it. We bring our own audio, run multiple cameras, and work alongside whoever is covering the service so the family ends up with the full story of the day.
If you have questions about filming or live streaming a memorial, you can schedule a call with me here.