Honoring and celebrating a Hero!

Hello my Steemian friends! My grandfather was laid to rest the other day and it was an amazing event from what my family has stated. I'm not grieving for my grandfather but celebrating his life! He had a long fruitful life. As I mentioned in my previous post, he passed in October 2016. And his burial was this past week at Arlington National Cemetery.

My experiences with my grandfather were always fun and enjoyable times. My extended family and ancestry had many individuals who served their country. I am a descendent of a John Gilbert who serve in the Connecticut militia during the American Revolution in the 1700's. And both he and his brother served with George Washington at Valley Forge. My dad and grandfather were members of the organization Son's of the American Revolution (SAR). I can become a member, but my priorities right now are raising my kids. SAR is something I do when the kids are in high school.

My grandfather served in the US Army Air Corp in WWII. This organization transitioned to the US Air Force. He wound up retiring as a Major and had a second career with Boeing.

Although I myself did not serve in the military I have made sure to serve the community I am living in some way. I've been a volunteer with the American Red Cross and am currently an adult leader in Cub Scouts with my church as some of the more known volunteer groups.

I also make sure my kids are aware that service to the community is important. Part of that education was taking one of my son's on Memorial Day weekend to lay flags at burial plots of veterans at a local cemetery. As we placed flags we talked and he learned a little bit about service to country and paying respects to our veterans. It made a big impact on my son as he learned about both my grandfathers and their service in WWII.

The images I've included in the post are of me and my son when we placed flags on our veterans gravesites. This last image is of my grandfather gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery. His is the one front and center with the flowers. The actual gravestone will be placed at a later date. I'm proud to have had him in my life and am even more proud to show my children important aspects of our history.

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Images taken with family cameras in various locations.