Courtney Davis
News Photographer

Ahh, yes. Daybreak on the road to Military Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.



The morning salute to the Red, White and Blue and the informational meeting that tells all us visitors that we are absolutely not to leave the sight line of anyone given the duty of looking after us, under penalty of death?



One of the many things we, as journalists, cover here in the great state of North Carolina is the military. More specifically, when a major figure visits one of our many bases.



Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, visited the men and women on base in Jacksonville for the unveiling of the new special operations unit of the Marines.



We were there 2.5 hours in advance of the event so our vehicles could be checked by K-9 security and so we could set our cameras, tripods and microphones. After that, we chatted w/ anyone willing to listen and trouble shot the potential problems that may arise (and you just never know what can and will go wrong). Fortunately for me, Brian Pittman, was there to make sure alls things to and from the satellite truck were in check.



After the 45 minute introduction of the New Marine flag, Donald Rumsfeld spoke to the congregation and shortly thereafter the event was over. One last salute, our noon live shot, an extra feed to CBS network of the mornings events, a little clean up and we were once again on our way.

Can we puuullleeeaasssseee stop for something to eat on the way back to Raleigh? I've been up since 3 am and need to find a second wind.