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Viral post brings strangers to Arlington grave of fallen soldier
The widow of a fallen U.S. soldier asked strangers online for one simple favor ahead of Memorial Day: visit her husband’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery and send her a photo.
ARLINGTON, VA. - The widow of a fallen U.S. service member turned to social media ahead of Memorial Day with a simple request: she asked strangers visiting Arlington National Cemetery to stop by her husband’s grave and send a photo.
What followed, she says, was far beyond what she expected.
Staff Sgt. Alan Shaw served in both the Marine Corps and the Army. A husband and father of three, he was killed during a mission in Iraq on Feb. 9, 2007, according to his wife, Sharrell Shaw.
What they're saying:
"I was blessed to fall in love with a hero," she told Fox 5, recalling the beginning of her family’s journey as a Gold Star family.
For nearly 20 years, Sharrell Shaw has visited her husband’s gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery, where he is buried in Section 60. But this Memorial Day weekend, she was unable to travel from Arkansas.
"There’s a lot of guilt that comes with that," she said. "So I thought maybe somebody could swing by and take a picture and remember him."
She posted her request on X, calling it "probably a long shot," asking if anyone visiting Arlington could share a photo of his grave. The message quickly spread, reaching millions and prompting an outpouring of responses.
Visitors began showing up at the cemetery and sharing photos and videos from Shaw’s gravesite. One man recorded a message saying, "Hi Sharrell, my name is Tom from York, Pennsylvania, and I am here to honor your request."
Others followed throughout the rainy holiday weekend, including Robert Kelly, who visited with his wife and said he hoped Shaw would feel "the love for the service her husband gave and for her."
Shaw said the response deeply moved her, describing it as a rare moment of unity and compassion.
"Watching Americans from every political spectrum coming together on Memorial Day weekend to honor just one soldier is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen as an American in a long time," she said.
She added that she believes her husband would have been grateful for the gesture, and emphasized that she does not see the experience as sad, but as a way of honoring his life and sacrifice.
"Thank you for remembering them today," she said, "and thank you for living a life worth their sacrifice."
The Source: Information from Sydney Persing's report.