When Christian Michelle Harris was only 2-months-old, she had a very special moment — she had the privilege to meet all of the soldiers that served alongside her late father, Army Spc. Christopher M. Harris.
Sadly, Harris passed away just one week after his wife, Britt Harris, had announced to him that she was pregnant. At the time of her phone call, he was serving in Afghanistan while his wife was home in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
“He teared up and immediately started telling all of his friends,” Britt Harris told CNN.
Then, a week later, Harris, 25, was killed in his combat vehicle by a suicide bomber. While Britt was pregnant, she received an overwhelming amount of support from the soldiers of the 82 Airborne Division who were deployed with her husband at the time. Harris even sent the soldiers pink confetti poppers to help them reveal the gender of the baby to all of their friends and family.
When Harris gave birth to their daughter, she knew she needed to do something to honor her late husband and to plan something special.
“I wanted to let everyone meet Christian together,” she said.
In a happy coincidence, March 17, 2018, the birthdate of Christian, also happened to be the date that the unit was returning home to the United States. That’s when she had an idea – she wanted to do a photoshoot with Christian and the soldiers. Around 20 people from the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82 Airborne Division, showed up in uniform.
“The gender reveal was my idea to keep the guys involved with the pregnancy since they were still deployed and so disconnected from everything happening back home,” she told TODAY. “This photoshoot was a chance for them to all come together and see Christian.
A few weeks after the baby girl was born, Britt hired Pinehurst Photography to do a photoshoot with the soldiers, as well as with Christopher Harris’ military uniform, boots, and the American flag she was given when he passed.
“These photos will show her all the men and women that served alongside her father, and a few of them that were survivors from his vehicle.”
The absolutely stunning and also beautifully heartbreaking photos were taken at Cape Fear Botanical Gardens. Britt’s main goal was that her daughter would be able to look back at these photos and know that her dad had so many men and women that loved him – and her.
“They’ve been a part of her life before she was even born, and I know they’re going to be around for the rest of her life,” she said. “No matter where the Army takes them all, I will be able to show Christian how they all came together for her.”
There’s absolutely no doubt that the photographs will be cherished forever. Even though Christian was never able to meet her dad, she will have comfort knowing that he loved her before she was ever born.
Learn more about the Spc. Christopher Michael Harris and his beautiful family in the video below. He may be gone, but he will certainly never be forgotten. Military Times honors him through a poignant piece as well. Thank you for your service, Spc. Harris.
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