A Gold Star widow’s plea for visitors at the Arlington National Cemetery visit her husband’s grave on Memorial Day drew the attention of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Sharrell Shaw put out a “long shot” request on X Sunday night asking for people to share the memory of her husband, Staff Sgt. Alan W Shaw, with a photo of his grave at the national cemetery.
“There’s just something about knowing people still stop by, still say his name, still remember,” she wrote on X with directions to his place of rest.
By Monday, Shaw’s post was flooded with replies from dozens who stopped by to honor her husband, who was killed in a 2007 explosion while serving in Iraq.
Among those who shared photos of their visit to the grave was Hegseth, who visiting the national cemetery with his wife and children for Memorial Day.
The secretary of war, his wife, and their four kids could be seen looking somberly over the grave and leaving flowers behind for the slain veteran.
Gabbard, who also served in Iraq, shared a photo of herself at the grave as well, thanking Shaw for her husband’s sacrifice.
“It was an honor to visit your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects,” Gabbard responded on X. “It was wonderful to see the beautiful flowers representing many others who did the same.
“Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to the loved ones they left behind,” she added. “Thank you for your service and sacrifice.”
Shaw said she was brought to tears by the outpour of support for her husband, including from fellow Iraq war veterans like Gabbard.
“Today showed me that Alan will never be forgotten,” Shaw wrote. “After years of watching social media reward some of the worst parts of humanity, today gave me a reminder that the good is still out there too.
“Thank you to every single person who stopped by to visit Alan today, said his name, shared his story, or took a moment to honor the fallen,” she added.