4 stories that will warm your heart
Circle of kindness Words to heal by
“Memorial Day was only a few days away, and it was a stark reminder of just how little I’d healed. After losing my son, Thomas, in Afghanistan in 2018, something inside of me died too. To honor him, I put decals on my car’s rear window showing a helmet, his name, the date he was killed in action and the words: In loving memory.
“I finished grocery shopping that Saturday and went to get in my car, but noticed something tucked underneath my windshield wiper. I unfolded a note and read: I’m thankful to your hero for his ultimate sacrifice. Always remember: A soldier is never fallen, instead they rise…as our guardian angels from beyond the skies.
“Tears blurred my eyes as comfort blanketed around me. Silently thanking the kind stranger, I tucked the note in my pocket and blew a kiss toward Heaven.” —Gweneth Strauss, 48,
Hampton, VA