We are fortunate because we live near one of the 130 National Cemeteries in the United States. Everyone knows about Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, DC; few know about the others.

I say we’re fortunate for 2 reasons; one because our son Rhys is buried there and two, because being in the vicinity of a cemetery dedicated to our military veterans is a constant reminder of the sacrifices Americans make for their fellow citizens of the US and fellow citizens of the world. A visit to a National Cemetery is truly a humbling experience.

We put flags out every week on the graves of those brave men and women killed in combat during the current Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, a mission that we have taken over for an aging and now sick veteran. We are proud to call Bob Markham our friend, a kind man, a former soldier, whose ministry in life since his wife’s death is to honor each young man and woman buried there who has died in combat in these current conflicts. We met Bob one Saturday while we were placing flowers on Rhys’ grave. We saw Bob many times after that, placing flags every Saturday. Often we saw only the results, as he was there earlier than anyone else.

Bob is sick now and worried about who would take care of the flags. He honored Michael and me by letting us take over for him. As he drove me around the cemetery the first time so that I could figure out the location of all of the markers, Bob shared a little tidbit of each soldier, sailor, airman or Marine’s story. “I’d better write this down,” I thought to myself.

The first time I went around with Bob I wanted to linger at each marker, wondering about the young man or woman, their families and their feelings about their lost son, daughter, spouse, mom, or dad. “Hurry,” Bob urged me on, “you’ll never get through the list if you spend too much time.” At first there were 72 names on the list. The list has, sadly grown since then.

Michael does the flags each week now. I’m the “second string” or the helper, if needed. Both of us have the marker locations memorized now.

I did the honors alone one recent Saturday morning when Michael had other obligations and realized as I placed the flags, how hard it really is to see those markers. They are bleak reminders of the evil in this world but they are shining reminders of the kind of people that are “Americans.” I shed a tear for each one of them and for their families, remembering the pride with the grief; a military tradition since the founding of this nation, but a tragedy I wish no family faced.

I know that Bob hated putting the responsibility of his ministry in someone else’s hands. But I think he knows what a blessing it has turned out to be for us. As we honor the war dead, we honor our son. When we meet other families at the cemetery, we share an unspoken bond in our pride and our grief.

The simple act of placing a flag on a grave marker means so much to those families who worry that everyone will soon forget their loss and that special life shortened by events a world away from home.

Thank you Bob Markham for making a step in our journey as precious as the lost soldier we honor. And thank you Lord for putting people like Bob in our path.

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Lynn

Account Executive at Sika Sarnafil

Lynn is an accomplished writer and business professional with a BA in English, an MBA, and JD degrees from prestigious Universities. Lynn has worked in the construction industry for 35 years.

She is also the mother of an American Hero. Her only child, Sgt. Rhys W. Klasno was killed in action on "Mother's Day," 13 May 2007 in Haditha, Iraq. Read her American Hero Tribute Blog and check out her Roofing Solutions Wonderkid Blog

Latest posts by Lynn (see all)

• HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY RHYS - July 16, 2016
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• Testing the limits of my endurance - July 4, 2014