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Change happens gradually — so gradually that you sometimes forget it’s happening at all. Then there are moments that remind you.

Associated Press photographer David Lewis captured one of those moments last month at a helicopter hanger in Hawaii. He was photographing the return of Marines deployed overseas in Afghanistan when this happened.

Sgt. Brandon Morgan, right, is embraced by his partner Dalan Wells in a helicopter hangar at a Marine base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, upon returning from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan in this photo made Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012. (AP/David Lewis)

The photo comes about five months after the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask don’t tell” policy, which prohibiting gay servicemen from openly acknowledging their sexuality. Lewis writes that it is one of the first photos the Associated Press has captured that show a” gay active duty serviceman in uniform kissing his partner at a homecoming.”

Sgt. Brandon Morgan said he wasn’t trying to make a statement when he kissed partner Dalan Wells. Still, the photo has taken on a life of its own.

From the AP:

More than 40,000 people have clicked the “like” button for the photo on Facebook, and thousands have shared it with their friends on several social media sites. Journalists are inundating Morgan with interview requests, and supporters from as far away as Italy are flooding his inbox with messages of thanks and encouragement.

The 25-year-old from Oakdale, Calif., said it was “a great moment in history” but he really just wanted to show his love to Wells when he landed in Hawaii on Feb. 22.

“I’m so honored to be part of something that people have fought so hard for in Congress, the White House and the military. But when it comes down to it, we didn’t intend for this go to worldwide. We were just happy to be together,” Morgan said Thursday in a telephone interview.

You might remember a similar photo from Virginia Beach last year, showing two female naval officers sharing a kiss.

Contact Amy Rolph at amyrolph@seattlepi.com or on Twitter as @amyrolph and @bigblog.

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That would be a java chip frappuccino in a trenta venti cup with 16 shots of espresso, a shot of soy milk, caramel flavoring, banana puree, strawberry puree, vanilla beans, matcha powder, protein powder, with caramel and mocha drizzled on top.

That’s what a young man named Logan Warren ended up ordering when he asked a barista to make him the most expensive drink possible. (He had a gift card, after all — why not guzzle it down in one giant cup?)

The total on the bill? $23.60.

Of course, Warren might regret actually finishing the drink, which he described as “tolerable, but not good.”

“Imagine a coffee-based health food smoothie that will put you in the hospital if you drink it all,” he wrote. “That’s how it tastes…like Jillian Michaels with a touch of Chuck Norris.”

Update from Starbucks: It wasn’t a trena-sized cup — that’s a no-no for frappuccinos. But the company is thrilled Warren still had so much fun concocting his birthday beverage.

We’re pleased to hear this My Starbucks Rewards customer was able to find great value in his free birthday beverage and develop a unique creation. As you can see by the receipt, which is dated March 2011, the base beverage was a Venti Frappuccino, not a Trenta. Our Trenta-size cup is only available for Starbucks® Iced Coffee, Tazo® Shaken Iced Tea and Iced Tea Lemonades. To ensure consistent service, this policy has been reinforced with our store partners (employees).

Read more via The Daily What.

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The plane carrying Amanda Knox and her family departs from Rome’s ‘Fiumicino – Leonardo da Vinci’ airport for London on their journey back to Seattle on October 4, 2011 in Rome, Italy. (Getty Images)

Amanda Knox’s new life starts Tuesday afternoon when her flight touches down in Seattle.

After disembarking from the London-to-Seattle flight, Knox’s family will speak briefly to reporters. Then they want some time alone.

In this image made from amateur video accessed by APTN, Amanda Knox, right, embraces an unidentified person at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. (AP photo)

Family spokesman David Marriott said Knox doesn’t have concrete plans for the future after landing in Seattle.

“They’ve all been so focused on the appeal,” Marriott said Tuesday. “They’re going to take some time and see what normal looks like now. It’s certainly different than what it was. They’ll take a look at the next steps. Obviously, there’s been a million requests for interviews.”

Knox is likely to be a hot commodity for some time — especially if Donald Trump has any say in future plans. Some news agencies are reporting she started work on a book in prison and already has hundreds of pages written.

“She’ll write, because that’s her way of dealing with things,” stepfather Chris Mellas told the Guardian.

But he said she hasn’t started the project yet. Already, some are speculating about how much a book deal could net for Knox.

Also looming in the future for Knox: Prosecutors say they’ll appeal Monday’s acquittal.

“Let’s wait and we will see who was right,” Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini told the Associated Press. “The first court or the appeal court.”

He added: “This trial was done under unacceptable media pressure. The decision was almost already announced; this is not normal.”

Experts say an appeal could be difficult, since the court’s finding that DNA evidence was compromised.

Knox supporter Tom Wright told CBS a celebration is forthcoming in Seattle, but it will be “at a time and place of (Knox’s) choosing.”

He added these words of support: “Way to go, kid.”

Vanessa Ho contributed to this report. Visit seattlepi.com’s home page for more Amanda Knox news. Contact Amy Rolph at amyrolph@seattlepi.com or on Twitter as @amyrolph and @bigblog.

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Trump, via Getty Images

When Amanda Knox returns home to the U.S. Tuesday, she’ll have no shortage of so-called friends in high places. But her highest friend might be the real-estate mogul sitting at the top of New York’s Trump Tower.

Donald Trump thinks the newly-acquitted Knox has some star potential, and he wants to help her find a way to pay her legal fees. He told new CNN anchor Erin Burnett Monday that Knox could “become a big star and build some dividends” from her ordeal in Italy.

Trump has long been a supporter of Knox, urging Americans to boycott Italy until her release. (Looks like the Donald might finally be lifting that ban.)

“I’ve been supporting the (Knox) family,” Trump said. “I’ve been helping the family and will continue to help them.”

Visit seattlepi.com’s home page for more Amanda Knox news. Contact Amy Rolph at amyrolph@seattlepi.com or on Twitter as @amyrolph and @bigblog.

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Amanda Knox arrives from Rome at Heathrow Airport London, Oct. 4, 2011. (AP photo)

Amanda Knox sightings were elusive Tuesday, but the former student was briefly spotted at an airports in Rome and London just before boarding a plane to Seattle with her family.

Knox, newly acquitted of the murder of Meredith Kercher, appeared in high spirits. The 24-year-old smiled at supporters as she carried her bag through the airport and gave one man a hug.

In this image made from amateur video accessed by APTN, Amanda Knox, right, embraces an unidentified person at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. (AP photo)

Meanwhile, the family of Meredith Kercher released a statement saying they are disappointed with the verdict:

“We respect the decision of the judges but we do not understand how the decision of the first trial could be so radically overturned. We still trust the Italian justice system and hope that the truth will eventually emerge.”

More Knox news:

Globe and Mail: “Amanda Knox headed home to U.S.; search continues for Kercher’s killer.”

seattlepi.com: “Donald Trump: Amanda Knox could ‘become a big star.”

Fox News: ”Amanda Knox’s Story Could Net Her Tens of Millions of Dollars, Experts Say.”

Associated Press: “Kercher family perplexed by verdict freeing Knox.”

Guardian: “Mail falls foul of preparing a fictional tale about Amanda Knox verdict.”

Seattle Times: “Outcome rewards vigilance of family, friends.”

ABC: “Amanda Knox’s First Words Since Regaining Freedom.”

Visit seattlepi.com’s home page for more Amanda Knox news. Contact Amy Rolph at amyrolph@seattlepi.com or on Twitter as @amyrolph and @bigblog.

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Amanda Knox cries after hearing a verdict that acquits her of murdering Meredith Kercher. (Getty Images)

As Amanda Knox was led crying out of an Italian courtroom Monday following her acquittal, a tidal wave of  information erupted online.

Some of it was incorrect.

Several news organization got the court’s decision wrong at first, publishing pre-written stories saying Knox “looks stunned” as her appeal was overturned and that she would be “returned to jail in Perugia, Italy.” One AFP story (lately removed from the Internet) even quoted prosecutors saying they were “delighted” with the verdict.

Wrong,wrong and wrong. Besides the stunned look, the exact opposite happened.

Errors aside, here are a few interesting (and correct) Amanda Knox headlines from around the world.

CNN: “Amanda Knox freed, but truth about student’s slaying elusive.”

Mail Online: “As Amanda Knox walks free, now DNA evidence is on trial.”

The Guardian: “Amanda Knox: police under fire over botched investigation.”

MSN: “What’s next for Amanda Knox? Interview requests.”

Telegraph: “Amanda Knox cleared of Meredith Kercher murder: she-devil, dominatrix, Venus in furs?”

New York Times opinion: “Justice in Perugia.”

seattlepi.com: “Local supporters: ‘Amanda is going to need a lot of help.’”

seattlepi.com: “Lifetime will update, replay Amanda Knox movie.”

Visit seattlepi.com’s home page for more Amanda Knox news. Contact Amy Rolph at amyrolph@seattlepi.com or on Twitter as @amyrolph and @bigblog.