World War II veteran, Kenneth Spilman was the youngest of six brothers who served. Service was a special thing in the Spilman family, and Kenneth's experience always stayed with him.
His wife of 60 years, Marie-Louise, said he didn't talk much about the war, but she knew it was something he could never forget.
After the couple moved to Washington, D.C., Kenneth began visiting Arlington National Cemetery — the place where our country's fallen heroes lay to rest. For the next 15 years, like the Flag Man, he would visit the graves of men he never knew, he would reflect on the pain their families felt, the valor they showed their country, and place wreathes for each of the men.
“He just filled with pride. He just was very proud,” said Marie-Louise. “He was proud of all those young men in his war or in any of the wars who were buried there. He felt comfort and he felt he needed to honor them.”
His favorite place in Arlington was Section 60, where those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were buried.
“He would walk among the rows and he would look and he would reflect on those who most recently had lost their lives,” said his daughter Stacy. “And he would reflect on the parents who had lost a child.”
Then at age 93, the veteran passed away himself. As soldiers played "Taps," Kenneth was laid to rest in Arlington — a hero at peace.
“Deep down, that's all he wanted, truly, it was to be buried there,” his wife declared.
See how one veteran honored thousands below.
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