Eric Kayne

Eric Kayne is a photographer and writer for Stars and Stripes. He has worked for a wide range of publications, including San Antonio Express-News, The Seattle Times, The Dallas Morning News and Houston Chronicle. Eric was a freelancer before joining Stars and Stripes. He was most recently a contract photo editor at Radio Free Asia.

kayne.eric@stripes.com

Sgt. Joseph J. Drake, center, is greeted by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Washington during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring U.S. Army Ranger veterans of World War II in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol.
(Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Army Rangers who served in WWII honored with Congressional Gold Medals

Members of the public and dozens of lawmakers gathered Thursday at Emancipation Hall on Capitol Hill as Congressional Gold Medals were awarded to five Army Rangers who served in World War II.

A car with stars and stripes and an American flag rolls down the street.

National Memorial Day Parade marks 20 years in nation’s capital

A young girl lays a white flower on the pile of flowers. A man next to her lays a pink flower.

Flowers of Remembrance: Public pays tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A dark placard seen against many red poppy flowers.

USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor remembers fallen service members with 600,000 poppies

An Old Guard soldier prepares to place a flag in front of a headstone.

‘Every headstone tells a story’: Army’s Old Guard places 260,000 flags at Arlington Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day

On a cool, overcast, misty Thursday morning, nearly 1,500 soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as the Old Guard, placed more than 260,000 flags in just four hours.

Navajo Code Talker Thomas Begay salutes the audience on Thursday, May 8, 2025 in Washington. Begay, born in 1927 near Two Wells, NM, served in the 5th Signal Company, 5th Marine Division; 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division from September 1943 - July 1946 at Iwo Jima. Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Allied forces victory in the Atlantic and the end of World War II in Europe with a special V-E Day event hosted at the National World War II Memorial (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

WWII veterans honored at ceremony marking 80 years since V-E Day

Five World War II veterans were among those recognized during the event, which featured remarks by officials, a wreath-laying, and musical tributes by the U.S. Army Brass Quintet and a bugler performing taps.

Richard Blumenthal speaks into a microphone while standing in front of rally-goers and holding a poster with the VA emblem and the words “Not For Sale.”

Veterans group, Democratic lawmakers rally on Capitol Hill to protest VA job cuts

Dozens of veterans and Democratic lawmakers gathered Tuesday afternoon on Capitol Hill to advocate for veterans who rely on services and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and push back against the Trump administration’s planned job cuts at the agency.

A man in a blue shirt reaches up with his arm to touch a name engraved on a black memorial wall.

Veterans mark 50 years since fall of Saigon with ceremony at Vietnam memorial

Dozens of veterans and their supporters gathered Thursday afternoon at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which marked the end of the Vietnam War.

Volunteers wash the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Washington. The wall, about 492 feet long, took about 45 minutes to clean by the 24 volunteers. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Volunteers wash Vietnam Veterans Memorial ahead of Veterans Day

Using scrub brushes, buckets and hoses transported to the site by a National Park Service truck, the volunteers spent nearly an hour cleaning the memorial in preparation of Veterans Day.

Kyle King finishes in first place of the 2024 Marine Corps Marathon with a time of 2:25:06, the fastest time out of 16,556 other racers, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 in Arlington, VA. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Marine wins the 49th annual Marine Corps Marathon for the second time

The 49th annual Marine Corps Marathon took place on Sunday in the streets of Washington and Arlington, Va. Thousands of runners and spectators came out to participate in one of the largest annual marathon races in the world. Marine Major Kyle King claimed the men’s victory for the second time after his first triumph in 2022.

Two men embrace at a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., on Oct. 17, 2024.

Wreath-laying ceremony honors JFK’s contributions to Army’s special forces

Under Thursday’s perfect blue skies, soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) gathered to honor President John F. Kennedy at his gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery during a wreath-laying ceremony.

A chatbot on display speaks with a KRH booth attendant during day three of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Last day of AUSA meeting continues exploring latest military defense trends and technology

The third, and last day of the Association of the United States Army meeting continued to display exhibits by defense industries from across the globe, filling 2.3 million square feet with the latest in weaponry and defense accessories.

The AUSA seal is displayed over the entrance to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center during day two of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

AUSA’s 2024 meeting features latest defense technology

The second day of the Association of the United States Army meeting featured exhibits by defense industries from around the world, filling 2.3 million square feet with the latest in weaponry and defense accessories.

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