Figure 1.-- Preston, a 10-yer old California boy, was disturbed when he saw veteran's graves wthout graves and flowers on Memorial Day (2015). He was visiting his grandfather’s grave at a Redding, California, cemetery to place a flag and flowers on the grave. His grandfather served in the U.S. Navy. While doing so, he was disturbed when he saw that other local veterans were not being honored on this special day with a flag or a flower. And he did something about it. And he has a Go Fund Me account. Click on the image to see Preston with the First Lady at the State of The Union.

Preston, a 10-yer old Clifornia boy, was disturbed when he saw veteran's graves wthout flaqs and flowers on Memorial Day (2015). He was visiting his grandfather’s grave at a Redding, California, cemetery to place a flag and flowers on the grave. His grandfather served in the U.S. Navy. While doing so, he was disturbed when he saw that other local veterans were not being honored on this special day with a flag or a flower. He continued to verbalize his irritation throughout the day, so his mother advised him that “You can’t complain about something unless you try to do something about it.” Preston’s response was a look of conviction and the words “I’m going to do something about it Mom!” And he meant it. His attempts to raise funds began immediately when he asked how much money he could get if he vacuumed the floors. That night Preston set a goal to honor every veteran at the McDonald cemetery in Redding with the placement of a flag and a flower. Using social media, word of Preston’s effort and goal spread and the Sunday visits to McDonalds cemetery began to draw other community members, some from more than 60 miles away. As Preston began to realize his goal of honoring all veterans at the McDonald cemetery he extended his goal to include veterans at other Redding cemeteries, then it was veterans in Shasta County, then the neighboring counties were brought in too. Preston then set a goal to honor veterans in every township along Interstate 5 between Redding and Sacramento, a 160 mile stretch of highway. Having met that goal Preston has set a new goal to honor veterans in all 50 states and to challenge others to get involved wherever they are through the Flag and Flower Challenge (#FandFChallenge). A challenge for those across the United States, and other countries where U.S. Service men and women are buried, to go out with a US Flag and a flower and THANK a veteran for their service. Preston was onof the individuals honored by President rump at the state of the Union speech (January 2018). Even the Democrats who mostly sat on their hands for over an hour, did join the ovation Preston received. The President praised Preston for his actions. “Young patriots like Preston teach all of us about our civic duty as Americans. Preston’s reverence for those who have served our nation reminds us why we salute our flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the Pledge of Allegiance, and why we proudly stand for the national anthem.”

Created: 10:45 AM 1/31/2018
Last updated: 10:45 AM 1/31/2018