A Presidential Veterans Day Story
As you may know, it was Veterans Day in the U.S.A. yesterday.
In other years on this day, we’ve mentioned Sgt. Scott Kirkpatrick, because his father Ed is a longtime TOP reader. Scott got a special honor yesterday, on what would have been his birthday, had he lived. Ed’s wife Marti tells the story:
Today, November 11, Scott would have been 32 years old. As always we went to Arlington to share a wee dram of the Glenfarclas 21 with him and celebrate and honor our boy. We always go early when it is still fairly quiet. A young man approached us at once, identifying himself as a photographer with The Washington Post and asked if he could photograph us and ask about Scott and we said of course, we always (well almost always) like to have any recognition/remembrance of our son. So, some of Scott’s story may be in the Post.
The highlight of the day however is pictured above. As they have done so often, President and Mrs. Obama and Vice President and Dr. Biden came to section 60 to honor our loved ones. Ed and I had the great privilege to shake hands with, be hugged by and briefly chat with both the President and First Lady. When I told President Obama today was Scott’s 32nd birthday he turned to an aid for a split second calling them by name and asked for a coin. It is a challenge coin and has the Presidential Seal on the front, the White House on the back with his number, name and signature. He placed it on Scott’s stone. It’s a very special birthday present and unlike everything else folks leave at his stone, this one came home to live with Scott’s flag, medals, and family pictures.
It was a nice day, and Scott would have had fun.
—Marti Kirkpatrick
The rest, including photos, is here.
theonlinephotographer.typepad.com
More here:
washingtonpost.com
As a veteran, I am proud of my president. This is just one of many reasons why.