All too often, we at American Thinker end up reporting on the insane, alarming, and bad. That’s inescapable for publications that cover culture and politics. It’s also necessary if the public is to be the informed citizens our constitutional, representative republic requires. We feel that acutely, so we also try to inform our readers of just how good America and her people truly are. One such opportunity involves Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. This is one article I write, through tears of honor and pride.
Read more The WNBA doesn’t market–Caitlin Clark?!
On the night before Memorial Day, Sharrell Shaw posted a special request on social media. “This is probably a long shot, but if anybody happens to be in D.C. this weekend and plans on visiting Arlington, I would love to see a fresh photo of my husband’s grave in Section 60,” she said. “There’s just something about knowing people still stop by, still say his name, still remember.”
Graphic: X Post
No, not a long shot, not in America. Not among those who have served and who, having never served, honor those who have and their families. People like Tulsi Gabbard, a 22-year veteran of the Army National Guard who has reached the rank of Lt. Colonel:
Graphic: X Post
The Gold Star widow’s husband was Staff Sergeant Alan W. Shaw. He was killed in action in Iraq on February 9, 2007. Alan was only 31, and while he’s from Little Rock, Ark., he’s buried Arlington in Section 60, Grave 8451 at Arlington.
Sharrell, who goes by @SharrellAnne2 on X, didn’t have high expectations, so I imagine she was mighty surprised on Monday when dozens of patriotic Americans visited her husband’s grave to pay their respects and take a photo for her, including members of the Donald Trump administration.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and his family also answered Sharrell’s call:
Graphic: X Post
So too did conservative Nick Sorter, who laid roses on the grave and is mailing the challenge coin left by DNI Gabbard to Sharrell:
Graphic: X Post
This mother and her five-year-old daughter remind us the future is far from lost:
Graphic: X Post
There were numerous others who answered the call. They didn’t go unnoticed:
Last night, I made a simple request on X. I asked if anybody visiting Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day would stop by Alan’s grave and leave a photo for our family.
What happened next honestly caught me off guard.
By this afternoon, dozens of Americans from all walks of life had made the walk to Section 60 to visit SSG Alan W. Shaw. Veterans. Families. Complete strangers. People who had never met Alan, but chose to honor him anyway.
Read more Artificial Intelligence and the Devil
For one day on social media, people put aside the constant noise and negativity and came together for something bigger than themselves. My notifications filled with photos, kind messages, prayers, and stories from people honoring not just Alan, but so many of our fallen heroes.
I don’t think people fully understand what moments like this mean to Gold Star families. The fear is never just losing them. It’s losing them slowly over time as the world moves on and fewer people remember their name.
But today showed me that Alan will never be forgotten.
After years of watching social media reward some of the worst parts of humanity, today gave me a reminder that the good is still out there too.
Thank you to every single person who stopped by to visit Alan today, said his name, shared his story, or took a moment to honor the fallen.
This right here is the America Alan knew and loved enough to fight and die for.
And today, y’all showed us all that it’s still here and it’s still worth fighting for.
She shared a family photo to remind us what she lost and what matters:
Graphic: X Post
As so many on the left, including the Democrat party, have misused Memorial Day for their narrow, selfish purposes, rest secure knowing there remain more than enough Americans to answer the call of the greatest, most generous, and free nation on Earth, and of a Gold Star family.
Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.
Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Read more Remember the Maine weirdo