More from the USO Route 75 Road Trip

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my day-job at the USO? Sometimes, between all the freelance photo/video gigs and Georgetown PR/CC grad school work, I forget to stop and think about how amazing my actual 9-5 is at the USO and how its this job that enables me to persue my side projects, like this blog.

Think about it: I get paid a big-girl salary with benefits to capture stories about an amazing non-profit that touches the lives of military members and their families.

I get to travel. I get to learn. I get to meet amazing people.

And, on top of that, I'm allowed the to pursue freelance opportunities and my graduate degree at the same time -- not many workplaces allow this type of flexibility! A not-so-much younger me would think this was pretty amazing/unbelievable/crazy cool.

Current me does too :)

Do you remember how I mentioned in an earlier post that I went on a mega USO Route 75 road trip with my fellow storytelling colleagues this spring? Well, now that its been several weeks since the final leg was completed, I'd love to share a few of the video stories I complied while on the trip.

This is only a handful of my videos -- there's a TON more I need to edit together. And I'll be sure to post more videos from my trip over the coming weeks!

Watch here:

Adorable Alert: Mini Sunset Portrait/ Mommy & Me Session!

Can you believe it's almost September? Before you know it the air will be filled with cool breezes, the leaves will start turning color and we'll all be sipping on apple cider and Oktoberfest beers...Oh, how I love fall!

However, I shouldn't get ahead of myself -- we still have a few wonderful warm weeks of summer to enjoy! Come December, I know I'll be wishing I had an endless supply of warm evenings, fresh produce and lovely afternoon thunderstorms, so I should to my best to enjoy them now.

Speaking of, what better way to enjoy a summer evening than with an adorable headshot/mommy & me photo shoot?

I was so honored with my friend from grad school, Cynthia, asked me to take a few new headshots of her and snap some pics of her adorable daughter, Adelaide.

Cynthia and I met in class at Georgetown's School of Continuing studies where we are (or were in her case!) studying public relations and corporate communications. She's in the Army and is moving across the country now that she's done with school.

I'll miss seeing her around campus for sure but I was so happy to capture these images for her and her little one!

On Bandit, the USO's Comforting Canine

Remember a few months ago when I was trekking around Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, recording story about a wonderful dog named Bandit?

Well, if you don't, you can read about that here. If you do, keep reading. I have great news.

A few weeks ago, I finally finished editing together the video about Bandit, and it turned out awesome -- like, one-of-my-favorite-videos-ever kind of awesome. It has everything in it you could ever ask for a in a non-profit video: cute dogs, touching family stories, amazing people.

What can I say? Sometimes my job is really, really easy when I'm asked to tell such inspiring stories.

While I don't want to give too much away about the story (and take away too much traffic from the USO!), I will at least give you an embed of the video to enjoy. If you want to read more about Bandit and hear more about his work with the USO, click here.

Stories on stories on stories for the USO

It's been a while since I've been out on a video shoot for the USO, which consequently means I've been spending a lot more time writing blog posts, feature stories and vignettes for the organization over the past few months.

Between writing about USO supporters and entertainers who were nominated for industry awards this year, to traveling through time for the USO's 74th birthday, to interviewing a mom who's son made the ultimate sacrifice, I've had some really interesting stories to follow over the past few months.

I think one of the most powerful stories I worked on, however, was the story about a recent USO President's Award winner, Shannon Huffman. During her shift at the USO center in Germany, Shannon took a series of actions to save a potentially suicidal service member from taking his life -- something that really resonated with me and shows what the USO is all about.

See, people seem to think the USO is just an organization that provides food and respite to service members around the world, when, in fact, we do so much more. See, the USO is there from the moment a troop enters boot camp to the moment he hangs up his boots. We're there for wounded and recovering soldiers, their caretakers and even veterans looking to land a civilian job. The USO is always by thier side -- and I'm so proud to work for them.

Anyway. Now that you know how much I love working for the USO, here's a full list of what I've been up to:

• ‘I Can See Him Here’: Mother Finds A Moment of Solace Through Visit to USO After Son’s Death
  
• USO Entertainers Shine at Academy Awards
  
• ‘He Came to Us’: USO Staffer in Germany Takes Action to Save the Life of Despondent Soldier
  
• Celebrate Valentine’s Day With These Five Huggable USO Moments
  
• USO Tour Veterans and Supporters Have a Big Night at the Grammys
  
• Photos Through the Decades: Celebrating the USO’s 74th Birthday
  
• USO Tour Veterans Katy Perry and Idina Menzel Set To Take the Stage at Super Bowl XLIX
  
• Bringing the Big Game to the Troops: USO Centers Around the World Prep for Super Bowl XLIX Festivities
  
• USO Veterans Rake in the Awards Nominations and Wins
  
• Jiffy Lube Franchises Join Forces to Raise over $19,000 for USO Delaware
  
• USO2GO Kits Lift the Spirits of Troops in Liberia

Photo follow up: Idina Menzel Meet and Greet with USO Military Families

Last week I wrote a bit about my recent trip to USO NYC to film an Idina Menzel performance, interview and special meet-and-greet with local military families.

Now that these photos are on the USO blog (which you should go check out!), I can post them on here and talk a little bit about my shoot.

As many of you know, whenever I'm out on shoots for the USO, usually, my main priority is shooting video and interviews. However, I've started shooting more and more stills - partly for practice and partly for logistical reasons for publishing - and I, personally, think I'm really stepping up my photography game.

Shooting events is hard. Shooting events where there's famous people, loud music, busy children and other factors in an unfamiliar town is even harder.  And that was this shoot. 

The lighting was bad. I was exhausted. And yet, I managed to turn around some great shots don't you think?


*** NOTE: I've had to take down a few images to protect privacy rights of individuals. ***

Shooting Idina Menzel's USO Meet-And-Greet with Military Families in NYC

So I've had to keep this under wraps for a while, but a few weeks ago, I interviewed a big big star.

Think music. Think dance. Think...FROZEN.

Yup, you guessed it. I got to interview the amazing Broadway superstar Idina Menzel for the USO! I know, I know. So cool, right?

#FlashbackFriday: That time I got to interview @IdinaMenzel for @theuso about the morning she spent with #milfams. #usocareers #everymomentcounts #nyc

A photo posted by Sandi Moynihan (@sandimoynihan) on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:55am PST

Even though Menzel's been running around promoting her new holiday album, she took a few moments of her time to sit down with three New York military families the morning before she performed at the 2014 Bloomingdale’s Holiday Concert & Window Unveiling in NYC.

I asked Menzel to talk a little bit about this experience, since it was a really special memorable moment for the military families she met, and also because it was the first time she'd ever worked with the USO.

Here's what she had to say.

I'll post a little bit later about the awesome, jam-packed day of fun the military families had in NYC after meeting Menzel, but those photos aren't quite ready yet :)

Speeding to Arizona: Shooting NASCAR Race for USO, Interviewing Driver Trevor Bayne & Meeting Medal of Honor Recipient Fred Ferguson

I used to think NASCAR was as simple as driving fast cars around in circles for a few hours and calling it a day.

Boy, was I wrong.

This past weekend I headed down to Phoenix, Arizona to cover the USO’s presence at the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) event at Phoenix International Raceway and got a true education about all the complexities and strategy that goes behind the sport. And yes, I said sport, you read that right.

After spending a full watching all they do out there on the track and talking to the drivers and pit teams, my opinion on whether or not to call NASCAR a sport has changed. It is totally a sport that requires quite a bit of strategy, team work and physical preparation.

Chess, however, is still not a sport. Sorry.

Anyway, the entire reason why I had the wonderful opportunity to jet to Phoenix was because Trevor Bayne, who drives his No. 6 Ford Mustang for Rousch Fenway Racing, featured the USO logo on his vehicle this weekend in honor of Veterans Day this week. In addition to having the USO logo on his far, Bayne also had Medal of Honor recipient Fred Ferguson’s name on his passenger door — something that I understood is very, very special in NASCAR and doesn’t happen very often at all.

While the weekend was a total blur (I was shooting photos and videos — fellow media people know doing both at the same time is craaaazy), I honestly enjoyed my time on the track.

I was surprised at how friendly and down to earth almost everyone I met was, including Trevor, who’s my age. Plus, I think I got some awesome shots and captured some special moments for Fred and the other USO VIPs that were with the group on Saturday. I even got to sit down and talk with Trevor on Friday before the race and snapped this Instavid!

@roushfenway driver @tbayne21 took a moment to thank #troops before this weekend’s @nascar Nationwide Series (NNS) event @phoenixraceway. Bayne’s No. 6 @advocare Ford Mustang will feature the USO logo and the name of Medal of Honor recipient, Frederick Ferguson. #usomoments #military #militaryappreciation #nascar #racing #RFRdriven #phoenix #latergram

A video posted by The USO (@theuso) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:38am PST

Honestly, I felt very honored to be the one capturing this special occasion for the USO and Fred, who was a total hoot and a wonderful man. When I wasn’t busy shooting photos or videos, I found myself chatting with Fred and listening to all of his stories from when he was in the service. He’s lived quite an interesting life and has seen a fair amount of the world and country thanks to his service. I just hope that when I’m that old I’ll have such amazing stories to share.

You know, I think that there’s always something special to be learned from veterans and older people in general. All too often, I think people discount the elderly and their tales, or only remember those who served twice a year.

Meeting Fred and seeing how much he enjoyed Saturdays events — meeting people, being honored by a standing ovation, seeing his name on the car — was a nice reminder to continually say thank you not only to veterans, but people in general, a bit more than we already do.