WASHINGTON – APRIL 14: U.S. President Barack Obama walks his new Portuguese water dog Bo on the South Lawn of the White House April 14, 2009 in Washington, DC. The six-month-old puppy is a gift from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) who owns several Portuguese water dogs himself. This breed of dog is considered a good pet for children who have allergies, as Malia Obama does. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

In honor of the Obama’s latest addition to their family, we’re taking a look back at a few other lucky dogs:

George W. Bush President George W. Bush petting his English Springer Spaniel Spot in the Oval Office. (Photo by Eric Draper/Mai/Mai/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

US President Bill Clinton is greeted by his dog Bu WASHINGTON, : US President Bill Clinton is greeted by his dog Buddy as he arrives at the White House 12 August in Washington. Clinton returned early from a cross country fundraising trip in order to meet with his foreign policy team to discuss the 07 August bombings of two US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.  ( TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images)

George H. W. Bush Pres. George Bush walking on South Lawn of the White House w. First Dog Millie and five of her puppies. (Photo by Michael Sargent/White House/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Ronald W. Reagan US Pres. Ronald Reagan petting his dog Lucky outside the White House. (Photo by Bill Fitzpatrick/White House/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Gerald R. Ford Pres. Ford studying budget matters in the Oval Office while petting golden retriever Liberty. (Photo by Ricardo Thomas/White House/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

President Lyndon Baines Johnson smiles as he plays with his pet beagle ‘Him’ in the Chief Executive Office of the White House, Washington, DC, October 7, 1965. (Photo by Pictorial Parade/Getty Images)

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Sgt. Joe Flannagan of the Alhambra police department wipes his eyes he watches funeral services for four Oakland police officers March 27, 2009 in Oakland, California. Thousands of police officers from across the country along with members of the public came out to pay their respects to four Oakland police officers that were killed in the line of duty last Saturday following a traffic stop of a fugitive parolee. Over 15,000 people attended the memorial service.

It wasn’t the place to be if you had a warrant out for your arrest. Thousands of cops from all over North America were in Oakland to attend the funeral service for four slain Oakland police officers. I saw cops from Boston, Minneapolis, Nevada and even the Canadian Mounties. It was a remarkable turnout for the four killed officers.

By the time I arrived for my assignment at the Oracle Arena, the parking lots were about a third full and a line of police cars continued to stream in. A line of blue uniforms snaked from the parking lot the entrance of the arena. A sign above the door read “Forever Heroes.” The entire Oakland police force was in attendance, hundreds of them lined the back steps of the arena as the awaited the arrival of their fallen comrades. One by one, police escorted hearses carrying flag draped caskets passed under a giant American flag that hung from two Oakland fire department aerial trucks. In unison, police officers saluted as the casket was removed from the hearse and taken into the arena.

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Pallbearers carry a casket holding the body of a slain Oakland police officer into the Oracle Arena during funeral services for four killed Oakland police officers March 27, 2009 in Oakland, California. Thousands of police officers from across the country along with members of the public came out to pay their respects to four Oakland police officers the were killed in the line of duty last Saturday following a traffic stop of a fugitive parolee.

Fifteen minutes prior to the 11am start of the service, a long line of officers and general public were still waiting to get in. The line would soon have to be diverted to the neighboring McAfee coliseum since the arena had reached capacity. Thousands would watch the service on the jumbotron in the stadium where the Oakland A’s play. In all, over 20,000 people had come out to pay their respects.

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Police officers wait to enter the Oracle Arena for funeral services for four killed Oakland police officers March 27, 2009 in Oakland, California. Thousands of police officers from across the country along with members of the public came out to pay their respects to four Oakland police officers the were killed in the line of duty last Saturday following a traffic stop of a fugitive parolee.

Shortly after the service started, I went to file photos before continuing to cover what was expected to be a three hour event. After filing, I made my way over to the Coliseum to photograph the people watching the live feed. Right before I got the entrance I ran into a friend from the LA Times and she told me that she had been kicked out along with the rest of the press. She said that at the time of her ejection, she wasn’t even taking pictures. Apparently, someone in the Coliseum security team had decided to kick out all the press for no apparent reason. This was kind of bad news since there would certainly be some nice images from there.

I ran into Victor Blue and we were chatting with a TV crew for NBC. The TV was frustrated and left. Victor and I stuck around and chatted and out of nowhere a cop from Modesto came up to us and said we could go in now. This was great. Inside, about 5,000 people sat in the shade and stared at the big screens in right and left field. Everyone sat silent, some cried.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A police officer watches funeral services for four Oakland police officers March 27, 2009 in Oakland, California. Thousands of police officers from across the country along with members of the public came out to pay their respects to four Oakland police officers that were killed in the line of duty last Saturday following a traffic stop of a fugitive parolee. Over 15,000 people attended the memorial service.

At the conclusion of the service I went to try and find a vantage point to shoot the procession of hearses and police vehicles. I had envisioned four hearses in a row with hundreds of police motorcycles making their way down the freeway. I found a nice overpass and waited for them to roll down the highway. As I waited, I watched a never ending flow of police cars mixed in with the traffic. Everyone seemed to be going the speed limit as the cop cars outnumbered the civilian cars 5 to 1. After a half hour of waiting, the freeway cleared and the first wave of motorcycles crested horizon.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Police officers on motorcycle escort a hearse carrying the casket of a slain Oakland police officer following funeral services for four Oakland police officers March 27, 2009 in Oakland, California. Thousands of police officers from across the country turned out with other mourners to pay their respects to the four officer killed in the line of duty March 21 following a traffic stop of a fugitive parolee. An estimated 15,000 people attended the memorial service.

Unfortunately, the hearses weren’t all together so it was four mini processions followed by hundreds of police motorcycles and cars. In all of the police funerals that I have covered, I have never seen a turnout of this size. It was a site to see.

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Justin Sullivan (l) and Mark Wilson (r) along with Special Events Technology Manager, Bob Covington pose and posture in front of the US Capitol West Front, site of the 44th Inaugural, following successful tests of the fiber-based photo network.

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Mario Tama details the stories behind his powerful images of 9/11, the US presidential election and pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. Click here to watch and listen.

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Starting can be a challenge, especially when it’s a start to an end. Today was the last day of the workshop where we experienced yet another gift. Phil took us through an inspiring presentation of his work which showed the development of his talent and contributions to the world of humanitarian photography and portraiture.

He is very generous with his time and encouragement. I sensed that all of us mentors have been nurtured and developed as much as the kids by this workshop. I know I certainly have.

The presentation of the kids’ film was a success. We met our deadline and around 50 villagers turned up at the Salon Municipal to support the kids. Five comedrona’s who have been sent for in a Tuk tuk sat in the front row. I worked the sound system and handed out nuts.

After dinner that night in the restaurant with all the kids I said goodbye to Heremias.  I am the youngest of the mentors he is the youngest of the kids, so we bonded quickly. Always smiling he’s like a cheeky little monkey. “Tu bueno hombre.” You’re a good man I tell him in my basic broken Spanish. He tells me and Suzie, one of the other mentors that we are good women. We hug and he scampers home.

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It’s day eight out of nine of the Bridges to Understanding workshop. The kids have received lessons in Premier and Photoshop Elements. The credits have been designed. The footage and stills stoically edited by saintly Julee who was up working until 4am. Now all we need is the musical score. Carmen, Maria, Heremias and I selected soundtracks from CDs by local musicians yesterday.

We interviewed this 60-year-old comendrona Ana Sosof Ramires who told us, “being a midwife is the best profession, but some women are afraid to be one or get scared due to screams and blood.”

Our interview with the comedrona is edited in. The situation is socially, culturally, politically and economically delicate and it’s been a challenge for us to guide the children to make an appropriate call during the editing process.

When asked during an interview if the comendrona has a license she revealed, “Yes, because I want to avoid problems with the government … if there is a problem in the birth, if you don’t have a license they will put you in jail.”

Brenda and Johnny, our two narrators, tired but committed, select relevant sound bites to include from an interview with one of the health care practitioners.

Brenda and Johnny are our narrators. We opened the short film with Brenda expressing her desire to be a Mumma one day and wondering who will help her. Then the show includes a series of interviews with doctors and midwives and an exploration of their perspectives.

At 5:30pm this afternoon our film debuted at Saloon Municipal. Watching the kids have a group portrait today was hysterical. They formed a human pyramid which eventually toppled. We have all bonded tightly and grown almost unfathomably through this experience of a lifetime.

We were on a high after the interview with the inspiring Dr Montoya, photographed here with the team outside his clinic in downtown Santiago Atitlan. He was supportive and accommodating in his approach to our project and his relationships with the Comedronas.

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The view of the front gardens of our hotel from the boat on Lake Atitlan. The boat dock leads up to the pool and outdoor hot tub, the sauna and the restaurant.

The sun beat steadily down on us this morning as a speed boat whizzed us across this lake that Auldus Huxley once described as the most beautiful in the world. I’m not sure how many lakes Huxley visited but I agree that this one, set in the valley of three dormant volcanoes, is vast and spectacular.

It’s been deeply fortifying to watch the connection forge and strengthen between the kids and key members of their community. Ten year old Johnny, from Santiago Atitlan who dreams of becoming a doctor, interviewed pharmacist Don Enrique this afternoon.

Local pharmacist Don Enrique is introduced to Johnny (who has been inspired to become a doctor). Johnny checks out the certificates and qualifications hanging on the wall above Don Enrique.

A sweet and gentle old soul he was very happy to talk to us and quietly very pleased when we mentioned that Johnny, was inspired to be a doctor by his son, the charismatic Dr Montoya.

There is some concern for the infant and maternal mortality rate in the town. It is on the rise. Doctors believe comedrona’s (midwives) need more education particularly in the metric system to enable them to properly gauge when the uterus is ready for the baby’s passage into this poor, but rich and fertile world.

The majority of women prefer to have their baby at home with a comedrona for the comfort it affords them and to avoid the expense of a  hospital visit. Tomorrow we shall get the perspective of the comedrona’s.

This is our production team recording the interview with Don Enrique in his pharmacy. From L to R: Phil on video, Mynor on sound, Evylyn translating, Henry (in the hood) and David covering photography.

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