Honoring Fallen Veterans This Memorial Day
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins urges the nation to honor the sacrifices of service members who never returned home. With Memorial Day upon us, it is crucial to uphold their memory.
On November 2, 2023, tragedy struck when my husband, Andy, was lost in a Humvee accident during an Army Reserve training exercise in Virginia. He was a captain, approaching his 28th birthday. Our family included our 17-month-old daughter, Adalyn. We were building a home and planning to purchase a 200-acre farm, a dream we cherished for years. Everything changed when, at 2:20 in the afternoon, I received a call from his commanding officer, the news echoing in my ears as the walls seemed to close in.
Three days later, we traveled to Virginia Commonwealth University trauma center in Richmond to bring Andy home. A hearse from the funeral home in Edinburg awaited us. Andy’s commanding officer, in uniform, greeted me with a profound hug, eventually falling to his knees in grief.
The drive home was anything but quiet. As we followed behind the hearse, a scene that should have been solemn turned into something unexpected. Upon reaching the first overpass, I noticed a fire engine with an American flag draping its side. Three uniformed firefighters saluted, and it became clear that this tribute was for Andy.
Several miles later, another overpass came into view, this time with a ladder raised high and numerous firefighters standing beneath another giant American flag. Their salutes were powerful, and I was moved by their compassion. I wished I had taken a picture to capture this moment, but realized I would have more opportunities.
We encountered similar scenes at approximately 35 overpasses during the journey home. Firefighters showed a reserved respect, honoring a fallen soldier they had never known. Strangers, parked along the highway, offered salutes as we passed. These acts of kindness were arranged by our friend Josh, a volunteer firefighter, who utilized his connections along Route 64 and Route 81. His wife, Amanda, ensured the procession was documented through photography and video for Adalyn to appreciate when she grows older.
Leading the procession was Mike, a police officer from Andy’s unit in Richmond. He coordinated with local and state police to provide an unimpeded route, something traditionally reserved for high-ranking officials, highlighting the honor bestowed on Andy.
No one had prepared me for this display of solidarity. One of the final tributes involved a massive American flag between cranes on Route 81, surrounded by supporters waving or saluting. I longed to thank each one personally.
Closer to home, farm equipment lined Route 81, not placed by chance but by Andy’s customers. They stood by their machinery in stoic tribute to someone who had treated them like family.
The police escort guided us slowly along Main Street in Woodstock, where neighbors stood with flags on sticks. It was a fitting welcome home. Pastor Nate cried as he held the Emanuel Church flag, a symbol that had greeted us years earlier.
Though I received a folded flag at Andy’s funeral, I struggled internally, wondering if I deserved the title of a military widow. Andy lost his life in a training accident on American soil, not abroad in combat. Yet, this nation does not make such distinctions. The firefighters showed up not caring about the details of Andy’s death, only that he wore the uniform and would not return home.
On Memorial Day, I will think of those who stood in tribute: firefighters, farmers, neighbors, and strangers. They did not know Andy but honored him with their presence. That is the essence of Memorial Day—standing united to remember.