Call NumberRMN-042-6088CreatorTodd HeislerContributorTFH MM**SPC** (writer)SummaryPULITZER PRIZE PHOTOGRAPH: The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of ""Cat,"" and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. ""I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,"" she said. ""I think that's what he would have wanted."" This photo is one of the 20 images in Todd Heisler's Final Salute story that was awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography. The award was announced Monday afternoon April 17, 2006. This photo was published in the Rocky Mountain News on November 11, 2005 (pages 20S-21S).Subject2006 Pulitzer Prize (Feature Photography)Final SaluteMarinesMilitary ceremonies, honors, and salutesGeographic AreaReno (Nev.)CollectionRocky Mountain News Pulitzer PrizesLanguageeng
Todd Heisler, Katherine Cathey sleeping next to her husband for the last time.. Denver Public Library Digital Collections, accessed 10/05/2026, https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/682589
