Judges comments: First place was the unanimous choice. We liked the boy acting so grown-up and serious. Wearing the medals of the older generations of men in his family was very touching. The moody light and composition really round out the nice feel. Second place was so different for a general news picture. At first we thought it was a feature, and it is, but it is certainly a news event too. The photographer was obviously rewarded for staying after the event to find a great moment we rarely see from Texas politiicians. Third place is a moment we have all seen dozens of times but this one is shot with a clean background and is very simple. All the touching and body contact really shows how the family feels about the arrival of their soldier.