Wreaths Across America

[Abby.L]

Though a little late for this, still timeless:

Soon after the presentation of the service flags and a little before the wreaths were given up for passing out, a few select cadets were chosen to escort gold-star families to their respective gravesites. I was, much to my surprise, chosen to escort a family. This family --A mother and her two children of 8-10 years old-- introduced themselves, and I to them. As I am a child of divorced parents, I did not think anything about the lack of a father in the group, thinking it may have been a grandfather or uncle who was KIA. The kids did not seem in the least, for lack of better words, depressed. As I walked along with the family through the other gravesites, it gradually dawned on me that the gravesite we were going to was that of the husband and father. Now, it impressed me that the kids were so used to this change, and that they instead asked their mother about the father. "What was daddy's middle name, again?" "How old was he?" and similar hung in the air. As we arrived at the gravesite, one of the kids made a comment that daddy's birthday cupcake was still on the gravestone(His birthday having been a mere 2 months prior, I noticed the white blotch the child was indicating). The mother, having been in possession of the wreath, laid it. As I rendered my salute, tears came to my eyes(I'm almost crying just writing this) at the thoughts that these two children are growing up without a father, at the pain that I'm sure the mother went through, and the pain that I'm sure they feel whenever they visit the cemetery. I drop my salute, and the children indicate that they want a picture with daddy. The mother, unused to the fact that she had an escort, took a few pictures. I offered to get a few with her in it with them, and she goes to join the kids. After snapping a few, we go our separate ways, after a "Thank you for the escort," and "It was my pleasure, ma'am." During this whole time, I honestly felt a tinge in my chest when looking at the Army Sergeant, last name "Hunter," and the wife and children that he left behind. It pained me that things like this had to happen, but that it is the cost of living free.

When I go back to that cemetery(I also have some family buried there), I could probably locate his gravesite purely out of memory, and may put a few flowers to let the family know that they're not alone in the sacrifices that keep us free.

EDIT: Small grammar issue

[Nuke52]

When I go back to that cemetery(I also have some family buried there), I could probably locate his gravesite purely out of memory, and may put a few flowers to let the family know that they're not alone in the sacrifices that keep us free.

That would be a very nice gesture, Lt Lockling.  Thank you for posting this.  [Darn it, I think there is something in my eye...]