I Lost a True Hero

AS the title says , I have losr a friend, and so has the veterans community in my area.
Most of you dont know me to well other than here on KZRider
I spend a lot of my time trying to pay back our veterans for there service to our country here in the USA.
My main partner in this is my next door neighbor Sandy Miller. We work on projects like bringing the Wall that Heals to our local community which is
a 80 percent scale wall like the Vietnam wall in Washington DC. . We had just completed this project and it was a huge success based on attendance
and the reviews we received in the media.
During the Walls visit I met a 95 year old woman and her son. The son Gary pulled up to the main gate and I went over to the car to see why they didnt park
. Gary wanted to drop off his Mom as she has limited mobility and we had wheelchairs at the gate for folks like her.
So I meet Mom and she is clutching a framed picture with a news article included of her son Peters death during the Tet Offensive in in 1968.
Gary brought her to the wall as she has never visited the wall in Washington DC and she wanted to see the wall before she dies.
This alone was very touching. We escorted her to the wall in a chair and took her to her son Peters name on the wall.
This is when I was told the most important part of this story. Mom had never received her Gold Star.
This is what a Mom would get from the Army when her son or daughter is killed in action . Peter has been gone for 50 years and Mom had been over looked.
Well I told Sandy and Her and I took on the mission of making this honor happen for Mrs Brum .
The short story is Sandy called our US Senator and the Defense Department and Made it happen in 36 hours !!!
AS I said, Sandy is a Hero in her actions for the sake of others . She wrote the checks to pay for the wall . Paid and printed all the advertising and brochures.
and paid for golf carts and a slew of other things to make this event happen. ( Our Budget was over 35 Thousand plus donations )
So I am so proud of my friend Sandy.
She selflessly did all this and much more.
I saw her this past Saturday when I presented her a event flag in her driveway And a challange coin from the Veterans Affairs Office
. She didnt feel very good so I helped her into her house. She told me not to worry, She just needed to rest
She died that afternoon.
She fell asleep in her chair and went peacefully
Rest easy my friend
All will Miss You
Dave

WE Buried Sandy with a Honor Guard and Full Military Honors.
Flag Line , Patriot Guard Riders, Firetruck escort and more .
She deserved this and more.
The above event described is only about one thousandth of the events she made happen
Always for the good of others, Never for herself

I'm sorry for your loss Dave , thank you for everything you guys have done.
JD

Sorry to hear Dave. Quite an inspirational woman! RIP Sandy.

So sorry about your loss.
Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story.

What a great and inspirational, yet sad story Dave. I was lucky not to have been sent to Viet Nam myself (ETS'd from the US Army in1975) Yet another example of selfless dedication for the benefit of others. This story is what a true patriotic american does. Thank you sir.