Gold Star Wife Asked for Photos of Her Husbands

As our Deputy Managing Editor Susie Moore wrote in her must-read Morning Minute column on Monday, a grieving widow posted on social media that she could be deeply grateful if somebody would take a photograph of her husband’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day, seeing as she was unable to go.

Now, she might have hoped that a reader or two would step up and honor her plea — but I can’t imagine she expected the overwhelming response she received.

As Susie wrote, independent journalist Nick Sortor quickly stepped up to the plate and said he would deliver, and deliver he did:

Good rainy morning from Arlington National Cemetery.

Specifically, the final resting place of your hero husband Staff Sgt. Alan Shaw.

His grave now has some fresh roses placed in front of it, alongside two American flags, a reminder that Americans truly appreciate his… pic.twitter.com/HglXCilTeE

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 25, 2026

Good rainy morning from Arlington National Cemetery.

Specifically, the final resting place of your hero husband Staff Sgt. Alan Shaw.

His grave now has some fresh roses placed in front of it, alongside two American flags, a reminder that Americans truly appreciate his sacrifice.

God bless you and your family on this Memorial Day 🙏🏻🇺🇸

Sortor was far from the only patriot to take the time — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a veteran herself who is stepping down from her post following revelations that her husband has been identified with a critical kind of blood cancer — also got here to honor SSG Shaw’s reminiscence:

It was an honor to go to your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects. It was fantastic to see the gorgeous flowers representing many others who did the same. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the final word sacrifice, and to the family members… pic.twitter.com/GWx11xlecF

— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) May 25, 2026

It was an honor to go to your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects. It was fantastic to see the gorgeous flowers representing many others who did the same. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the final word sacrifice, and to the family members they left behind. Thank you for your service and sacrifice

@SharrellAnne2 🙏🏽

Sharrell Anne wrote back with a poignant message:

Tulsi, thanks. Not just for taking the time to go to Alan today, but for understanding the weight of that sacrifice in a manner few people ever actually will.

You answered the call to serve this nation just like he did. You know what it means to put on the uniform, to stand prepared to give every part in protection of this nation, and that makes this gesture imply even more to our household.

Seeing you standing there at his grave actually introduced me to tears. Thank you for honoring Alan, for saying his title, and for reminding me that there are still people in this nation who haven’t forgotten the associated fee of freedom. 🇺🇸

REMEMBERING: ‘We Gave Up Our Yesterdays for Your Tomorrows’ — 97-Year-Old WWII Hero’s Rain-Soaked Speech Goes Viral

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Senior Legal Analyst for The Federalist Margot Cleveland expressed her condolences and requested, “What was Alan like?” Sharrell Anne answered with a transferring post:

Alan was the funniest individual I’ve ever identified. Loud in the best manner. The type of man whose presence crammed a room the second he walked into it. His chortle was always real, and people have been naturally drawn to him.

He was a chief, but not in the loud, self-important manner some… pic.twitter.com/sujaj5PBKo

— SharrellAnne (@SharrellAnne2) May 25, 2026

Alan was the funniest individual I’ve ever identified. Loud in the best manner. The type of man whose presence crammed a room the second he walked into it. His chortle was always real, and people have been naturally drawn to him.

He was a chief, but not in the loud, self-important manner some people attempt to be. People adopted him because they trusted him. He cherished arduous and fought tougher, and he was fiercely devoted to the people he cared about.

He was a devoted son, brother, and pal long before he turned my husband. We have been younger and messy and imperfect sometimes, but through all of it, he was my best pal.

I’ll without end be grateful that out of everyone in this world, he selected us.

Thank you for asking about him. Talking about him through the years has performed a big function in our therapeutic course of. ♥️

You are missed, Alan, and we thanks for your service.

Meanwhile, an military of freedom lovers got here to pay their respects to Alan throughout the day:

Hi Sharrell, I shared your request with my 5-year outdated and she insisted that we honor during our annual go to. We are grateful to you, Alan and your loved ones. God bless you. pic.twitter.com/eL9uyrYQDM

— Yana Hongla (@YanaHongla) May 25, 2026

Sharell – today I visited my great grandfather at Arlington and got here to go to Alan for you! He continues to be remembered pic.twitter.com/p1e3zs1Ane

— Domineau Wiley (@domineauspizza) May 25, 2026

There have been many other tributes Monday, most likely due to the fact that Sharrell Anne’s unique post has been seen an unimaginable 4 million instances.

At instances, this nation can appear hopelessly divided and unsalvageable. This outpouring of love, patriotism, and respect for the army that makes the United States a chance, however, reveals that there’s still a lot to be optimistic about, and that there are tens of millions of fantastic Americans on the market.

We must keep preventing for our nation, just as SSG Alan W. Shaw would do if he have been right here.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s management, the warrior ethos is coming back to America’s army.

Help us report on Trump and Hegseth’s successes as they make our army great again. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to obtain 60% off your membership.