A YEAR IN PHOTOS / Monroe News Photographer Tom Hawley's Top Ten Photos of 2021

Tom Hawley, The Monroe News
·2 min read

Community Journalism has always been a passion of mind, and it's been my profession for the past 42 years. To capture that moment that tells the story of the incredible people in our community is just one goal of mine as a photojournalist. I turned 65 this past October and still have the love to capture priceless moments.

Here are my top ten images of 2021. Some are heartwarming; others heartbreaking. But all help tell the story of the past twelve months in Monroe County.

Photographer Tom Hawley
Photographer Tom Hawley

No. 1: Alice, Hancock and Leland just about tackled their father, William Bruck of Erie, when he surprised them at their school on March 19 after being gone for ten-and-a-half months. Bruck had been deployed with the army as an engineering technician, conducting missions throughout Iraq and Syria.

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 William Bruck of Erie was just about tackled by his children Alice, 12, Hancock, 9, and Leland, 8, as he surprised them at their school State Line Christian in Temperance March 19, 2021 after being gone for 101/2 months. Bruck was currently deployed with the MOS of 120A (Engineering Technician) of the 457th Forward Engineer Support Team-Advanced in support of (OIR) Operations Inherent Resolve, conducting missions throughout Iraq and Syria on Combined Joint Area of Operations.

No. 2: Six-year-old Aurora Lewis enjoys a fun moment with her mother, Nicole, on April 27 as they sing and laugh after Aurora's bath. Lewis was born with the rare genetic affliction called brittle bone disease, but it hasn't stopped her and her mother from having heartwarming moments such as this one.

Aurora Lewis, 5, enjoys having fun with mom Nicole Lewis as they sing, laugh after her bath on April 27, 2021. This was the last bath Aurora took before having her trach removed on April 29, 2021. This is one of several images as part of the story on Aurora.
Aurora Lewis, 5, enjoys having fun with mom Nicole Lewis as they sing, laugh after her bath on April 27, 2021. This was the last bath Aurora took before having her trach removed on April 29, 2021. This is one of several images as part of the story on Aurora.

No. 3: Kimberly Gray-Horton's eyes reflect her pain after she and her three small children lost everything in an apartment fire at Greenwood Townhouses early Easter morning, April 4. Gray-Horton is shown being comforted by her boyfriend, Shaquille Wilkerson.

Kimberly Gray-Horton of Monroe and her three small children ages 6, 3, and 2 lost everything due to the apartment fire at Greenwood Townhouses early Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021 is hugged by her boyfriend Shaquille Wilkerson. "My kids and I lost everything, said Gray-Horton, not sure where to turn to for help."
Kimberly Gray-Horton of Monroe and her three small children ages 6, 3, and 2 lost everything due to the apartment fire at Greenwood Townhouses early Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021 is hugged by her boyfriend Shaquille Wilkerson. "My kids and I lost everything, said Gray-Horton, not sure where to turn to for help."

No. 4: Dundee produce farmers Tye and Holly Thompson laugh as Blissfield Baptist Church Pastor Tom Frantz hops into their 1987 Dodge Ram Pickup as the couple were about to leave their wedding ceremony for the reception on May 21.

Tye and Holly Thompson bust out laughing after Blissfield Baptist Church pastor Tom Frantz jump into the 1987 Dodge Ram and said "Let's Go" as the couple were about to leave for the reception. "I always ride in the middle on the bench seat," said Holly as the couple were just married on May 21, 2021. This was the beginning of a series of images about the couple who were produce farmers in Dundee.

No. 5: Oaks of Righteousness Pastor Heather Boone (left) and Monroe Public Schools Supt. Dr. Julie Everly embrace at the March 26 grand opening of The Village Market off Fourth St., in the City of Monroe. The grocery store is the only one on the east side of Monroe, which previously had been a food desert.

Pastor Heather Boone, founder of Oaks of Righteousness receives a big hug from Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Julie Everly in congratulations of opening The Village Market off Fourth St. in Monroe which opened Friday, March 26, 2021. This is one of several images taken by photographer Tom Hawley as he follows the journey of Pastor Heather Boone.

No. 6: Monroe High School senior Vannity Anderson and her parents could not contain their excitement on October 1, when Vannity was announced as her school's Homecoming queen.

Monroe High School senior Vannity Anderson shows her excitement with her parents Amber Ford and Raymond Anderson as she was announced homecoming queen Friday, October 1, 2021.
Monroe High School senior Vannity Anderson shows her excitement with her parents Amber Ford and Raymond Anderson as she was announced homecoming queen Friday, October 1, 2021.

No. 7: Alice Lorraine Center resident Donna Brett holds the hand of direct care worker Kayla Stanley as the former receives her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on January 14.

Alice Lorraine Center resident Donna Brett holds the hand of direct care worker Kayla Stanley as she receives her first dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine January 14, 2021 by a member of the Walgreens Immunizations Services.
Alice Lorraine Center resident Donna Brett holds the hand of direct care worker Kayla Stanley as she receives her first dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine January 14, 2021 by a member of the Walgreens Immunizations Services.

No. 8: William Bruck and his wife Natalie embrace after Bruck surprised the couple's children at their school on March 19.

A special moment as Natalie Bruck embraces her husband U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 William Bruck of Erie after he surprised his children at State Line Christian School March 19, 2021.
A special moment as Natalie Bruck embraces her husband U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 William Bruck of Erie after he surprised his children at State Line Christian School March 19, 2021.

No. 9: (From left to right) Mackenzie Cline, Adalynn Rios and Brookelyne Cartwright dance with attitude on the bleachers at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, where the trio were waiting to participate in a performance by the Viva Dance Co.

Girls with attitude as Mackenzie Cline, 8, Adalynn Rios, 8, and Brookelyne Cartwright, 9, act and dance on the bleachers at the Monroe County Fairgrounds early in June as they wait for the Viva Dance Co. second show. The girls were going to dance to "I Want Candy."
Girls with attitude as Mackenzie Cline, 8, Adalynn Rios, 8, and Brookelyne Cartwright, 9, act and dance on the bleachers at the Monroe County Fairgrounds early in June as they wait for the Viva Dance Co. second show. The girls were going to dance to "I Want Candy."

No. 10: Summerfield Township Firefighter Tony Pirolli was exhausted after battling an apartment fire which broke out at 4:30 a.m. May 23 at the Village Pointe Apartments in Dundee.

Summerfield Township fireman Tony Pirolli was exhausted after battling the apartment fire which broke out 4:30am Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Village Pointe Apartments in Dundee.
Summerfield Township fireman Tony Pirolli was exhausted after battling the apartment fire which broke out 4:30am Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Village Pointe Apartments in Dundee.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe News Photographer Tom Hawley's Top Ten Photos of 2021