As students process through a blessing of backpacks ceremony at Trinity United Church of Christ's Sunday service, Pastor Jane Hillman says a prayer for Corbin Schnarr of Jasper, 6, on Aug. 13 in Jasper, Indiana. Hillman said she hopes to impart upon students that God is with them at school as well as in church. “Kids are comforted by having their backpack blessed,” she said. “One kid got a new backpack during the year and brought it back in because he wanted it blessed. It gives them that symbol that God is with them.”

For 30 years, Bob Meyer has placed American flags along roadways in his hometown of St. Henry, Indiana. "What started out as just decorations went much, much deeper. It's the symbol of freedom," Meyer said Sept. 2 after completing a round of flag placement. "And that ties in big time with all these veterans here in this town." He said his mother, Nip Meyer, was on the decorating committee when the community celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1987 and asked him to put up the flags initially. Three decades later, Meyer is still placing the flags out for Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Veterans Day, September 11 and the community's annual festival. "When I started I thought, 'Well I'll do them as long as my mom wants me to," he said. "And then bless her heart, she's still here today for this 30th anniversary."

Monday was 16 years since the birth of Madison Robinson; Tuesday was her funeral. Robinson died after being shot Aug. 24 on the front porch of her Cape Girardeau home. Scores turned out for Robinson’s visitation and funeral Sept. 3 at Mercy Seat Missionary Baptist Church in Charleston, Missouri. “I’ll have people remember this day, today, that a 15-year-old girl is dead in our community,” Robinson’s cousin Alex Gilbert said. “If you want to remember her, remember her as somebody that shouldn’t have died because of the gun violence.” Pictured from left: Sunnyboy Mims, 7, and Randi Jones, 9, cousins of Robinson; and Misty Robinson, aunt of Madison, mourn with Martez Johnson (Madison’s aunt who raised her), with head bowed, during Madison’s services.

John-Ross Williams, 6, left, and Rylan Ryan, 7, both of Sikeston, Missouri, stand with the rest of the crowd for the playing of the national anthem at the start of opening night of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo on Aug. 7 in Sikeston.

Father Christopher Martin carried the Blessed Sacrament in eucharistic adoration during week two of the Steubenville STL Mid-America youth conference July 16 at the Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, Missouri.

Santa Claus, portrayed by Steve Southard of Jonesboro, pays a visit to 9-day-old William “Liam” Clairday on Dec. 20 at St. Bernards Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Jonesboro, Arkansas. “This is one of my emotional stops,” Southard said. “I enjoy just the love and holding those babies and squeezing them. And just giving them a little hug from God.”

Jason Desmond, of Lehi, rests his Winchester rifle, given to him by his grandfather, on his shoulder while attending a pro-gun rally on the steps of the Utah State Capitol on April 14 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Desmond said he attended the event because he believes people need to come out to support what they believe in. “This is something I believe in,” Desmond said. “I’m not a huge gun nut, but I don’t like that the Second Amendment is under attack and getting all the attention that it is in the media.” At the protest, demonstrators heard from numerous speakers airing their anti-gun control beliefs.

Religious sisters walked in a eucharistic procession through Indianapolis during the 10th National Eucharistic Congress on July 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Arleen Tipsword, who at age 90 believes herself to be the oldest member of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, takes a brick as a souvenir from the remains of the church June 22 at 210 E. Outer Road in Scott City, Missouri. "It's heartbreaking," Tipsword said of the building that was destroyed in a fire during Friday afternoon's storm. "I met my husband here in this church." She believes it was 1978 when she first attended the church where she would marry her husband in 1985. "I mean this is most wonderful church family that we can depend on," she said.

Ron Bristol cares for Lucy after the dog was rescued by firefighters from a house fire June 21 on 19th Avenue in Moline, Illinois. Bristol, a neighbor of the Carr family whose house caught fire, said Lucy was located in the basement of the home. Jim Versluis, a training officer with the Moline Fire Department, said Lucy and Truman, the family’s other dog, were rescued from the home, but the family’s bird died. Jasmine and Daniel Carr and their two sons were not home at the time of the fire. Jan MacFarlane, a neighbor to the family, said the family moved in a few weeks ago.

Protesters gather for the March For Our Lives SLC on March 24 outside West High School in Salt Lake City. The demonstration was done in coordination with other March For Our Lives events throughout the country advocating for gun-control legislation in the wake of the school shouting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, in Parkland, Florida.

Joda Grace Bess, 7, of Cape Girardeau, receives a kiss from her father David Bess while dancing during the 11th annual Father Daughter Dance on Feb. 16 at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. "It's always a really good time," David said about the dance which he has previously attended with his daughter. The event, with "The Wizard of Oz" as its theme, featured food, music, dancing and wands for participants.

Preston Turney, 8, of Manila, runs his hand through Ranger's mane during an equine assisted therapy session at Diego Ranch on Oct. 3 off Arkansas Highway 91 West near Jonesboro, Arkansas. 

Dane Cliften, of Layton, 5, holds his arms in the air as bubbles float over the lawn of the Utah State Capitol on May 13 in Salt Lake City, Utah. “It doesn’t matter what country you’re from, we all love bubbles,” said Abraham Roe, of Salt Lake City, who released the bubbles. Roe said the act of releasing the bubbles relaxes him.

Jonesboro High School Marching Band members warm-up before taking the field for their final marching competition of the season Oct. 27 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Kaitlyn Davenport and Jacob Grimes, both of Brookland, share a kiss while making the final decent on a carnival ride Sept. 19 at the Northeast Arkansas District Fair in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The pair said they have been dating for six months.

"You come to see your loved ones," Army veteran Nicholas Fotiadis of East Moline said after kneeling at the gravestone of his wife Mary Ann Fotiadis. "I think what [Memorial Day] is supposed to stand for is the important thing. … If you served, I think you deserve this." Fotiadis, whose father and brothers also served in the military, placed a yellow rose and an American holly at his wife’s grave May 30 at Rock Island National Cemetery at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois.

Deacon Clark Lenz of Torrington, Wyoming, prepares to take the stage as a newscaster Dec. 5 during practice for a skit for the annual St. Nicholas Banquet at the St. Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana. Deacon Patrick Friend of Little Rock, Arkansas, said the banquet, which is hosted by seminarians in their final year, is a chance to say “thank you” to the community at the Archabbey and seminary.