Veterans day story

SStockDart · 11-12-2016, 04:14 PM

I would like to share details of an event that happened to me yesterday, Veterans Day.

My youngest daughter, Nicole, wanted to take her 2 sons to the Veterans Cemetary to see where their great grandparents are buried. Gavin is 9 and Hudson is 6. Nicole also wanted to help the boys understand "freedom is not free" and that many veterans have helped us to remain free. Additionally, it was a lesson in going to heaven.

I got some fresh cut flowers prior to picking up my family, primarily for my mother who is burried with my father, after 60 years of marriage, in the Phoenix National Cemetary.

As we drove quietly into the massive cemetary, an eerie stillness overcame us. My grandsons were in awe of all of the American flags, thousands of people, and hundreds of thousands of grave sights.

I had the boys transfer the flowers into a provided vase and water and we proceeded to where my dad and mother were. I had brought along a dish towel and asked Hudson to dust off the headstone while Gavin set the flower vase securely above the headstones.

After a few moments, we held hands and said the Lord's Prayer.

As we were finishing up the prayer, out of the side of my eyes I noticed a young man and about a 8 year old boy standing quietly about 20 feet away. Shortly, they approached us. The clean cut father asked "would you mind if we clean your loved ones head stone "? I initially said "no thanks, we have already done that", when I noticed that the young man and his son both had soft bristled brushes in their hands. Once noticing that I changed my mind and told them, "that would be nice".

My family watched as father and son delicately brushed all dust and sand from the headstones. As the father knelt down his pants leg moved up, a prosthetic foot was noticeable.

As they stood up, I asked if the father was a veteran himself. Yes he was. I promptly saluted him, to which he immediately snapped to attention and returned the salute. We were both Army veterans although many years apart, and my dad was also an Army veteran and former prisoner of war. This young man had served 2 tours in Afghanistan and some obvious serious injuries. As the father and son walked away one could notice a distinct limp as he held his sons hand headed to the next loved ones headstone to clean and pay respects.

My daughter had never before been so moved and filled with understanding and emotion. My grandsons experienced something that they will never, ever forget.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

11-12-2016, 04:14 PM	#1
SStockDart VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona, Texan forever Posts: 1,176 Likes: 879 Liked 574 Times in 212 Posts	Veterans day story I would like to share details of an event that happened to me yesterday, Veterans Day. My youngest daughter, Nicole, wanted to take her 2 sons to the Veterans Cemetary to see where their great grandparents are buried. Gavin is 9 and Hudson is 6. Nicole also wanted to help the boys understand "freedom is not free" and that many veterans have helped us to remain free. Additionally, it was a lesson in going to heaven. I got some fresh cut flowers prior to picking up my family, primarily for my mother who is burried with my father, after 60 years of marriage, in the Phoenix National Cemetary. As we drove quietly into the massive cemetary, an eerie stillness overcame us. My grandsons were in awe of all of the American flags, thousands of people, and hundreds of thousands of grave sights. I had the boys transfer the flowers into a provided vase and water and we proceeded to where my dad and mother were. I had brought along a dish towel and asked Hudson to dust off the headstone while Gavin set the flower vase securely above the headstones. After a few moments, we held hands and said the Lord's Prayer. As we were finishing up the prayer, out of the side of my eyes I noticed a young man and about a 8 year old boy standing quietly about 20 feet away. Shortly, they approached us. The clean cut father asked "would you mind if we clean your loved ones head stone "? I initially said "no thanks, we have already done that", when I noticed that the young man and his son both had soft bristled brushes in their hands. Once noticing that I changed my mind and told them, "that would be nice". My family watched as father and son delicately brushed all dust and sand from the headstones. As the father knelt down his pants leg moved up, a prosthetic foot was noticeable. As they stood up, I asked if the father was a veteran himself. Yes he was. I promptly saluted him, to which he immediately snapped to attention and returned the salute. We were both Army veterans although many years apart, and my dad was also an Army veteran and former prisoner of war. This young man had served 2 tours in Afghanistan and some obvious serious injuries. As the father and son walked away one could notice a distinct limp as he held his sons hand headed to the next loved ones headstone to clean and pay respects. My daughter had never before been so moved and filled with understanding and emotion. My grandsons experienced something that they will never, ever forget. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE __________________ Gary Hansen - SS/FA 4911, B/SA 4911 Last edited by SStockDart; 11-15-2016 at 02:47 AM.