paranoid, perhaps
but just to be the devils advocate, the photographer included the smiling photo with the ensignia intact but blurred.
Why was blurring not used instaed of obliteration in the subject photo? That would seem more genuine.
Frankly, I was not moved by the photo either way. At worst it is probably laziness and not anything sinister. There is noting particularly moving about the photoshopped pic. They could have done better if sinister was their intent.
The media does much worse a thousand times a day.