IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Soldiering on: Army unit takes touching photos with baby of fallen friend

The men and women who served with a soldier killed in Afghanistan came together for a sweet photoshoot with his baby daughter.
/ Source: TODAY

Christian Michelle Harris is only two months old, but she already has a group of Army buddies as best friends.

Christian's mother, Britt Harris, 26, has made sure that those who served with her late husband are still part of their lives while she preserves the memory of Army Spc. Chris Harris, 25, who was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in August.

Newborn daughter of fallen soldier does photo shoot with army unit
Christian Michelle Harris was joined in a touching photoshoot by the members of her late father's Army unit. Pinehurst Photography

The members of his unit came together for a touching photoshoot with Christian a day after Memorial Day at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden in the family's hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Never miss a parenting story with the TODAY Parenting newsletter! Sign up here.

The soldiers delighted in meeting Christian, who has her father's striking blue eyes.

The soldiers who served alongside Chris Harris delighted in meeting his baby girl together.
The soldiers who served alongside Chris Harris delighted in meeting his baby girl together. Pinehurst Photography

"It’s comforting,'' Britt Harris told TODAY. "They all mention Chris, tell stories about him, and seeing them go from big macho Army men to baby-talking and waiting in line to be the next one to snuggle Christian truly warms my heart. It’s so wonderful to see how much she is loved."

Britt was six weeks pregnant with Christian when Chris was killed only days after learning he was becoming a father.

Britt Harris wants to ensure that her husband's military friends stay as an important part of her family's lives.
Britt Harris wants to ensure that her husband's military friends stay as an important part of her family's lives. Pinehurst Photography

As she dealt with the loss of her husband, she also made sure to keep his fellow soldiers close by involving them in Christian's gender-reveal event in October.

She sent a batch of pink confetti poppers to Afghanistan, where they shot them off in front of an American flag to learn that the baby was going to be a girl.

Christian was born on March 17, which also happened to be the day Chris's unit returned home from Afghanistan.

"The gender reveal was my idea to keep the guys involved with the pregnancy since they were still deployed and so disconnected from everything happening back home,'' she said. "This photoshoot was a chance for them to all come together and see Christian.

Britt Harris wants the photos to show Christian how special her father was to so many people.
Britt Harris wants the photos to show Christian how special her father was to so many people. Pinehurst Photography

"These photos will show her all the men and women that served alongside her father, and a few of them that were survivors from his vehicle."

A few weeks after Christian was born, Britt held a heartwarming photoshoot with her baby girl and her husband's military uniform, boots and the American flag she was given upon his death.

Baby poses in military uniform of father she'll never meet
Christian's touching baby pictures included a photo of her late father and his military boots. NPS Photography

She wants to make sure that Christian knows what kind of person her father was and how much he meant to the men and women with whom he served.

"I’ll tell her that no matter where the Army takes all of them, there was a time when they were all together here and showed up just to see her,'' Britt said. "How special she was to them all and how loved she was by them all through the pregnancy, and even more so now."

Follow Shamar Walters and Scott Stump on Twitter.