For the first eleven years of my life my grandfather always prided himself in his participation in the U.S. Navy. He told me stories of how he was on their boxing team. After his discharge he went on to fight in the Golden Gloves. Constantly walking down the stars, and into rooms my grandfather would fake upper cuts, showing us how he was once the greatest boxer in the Navy. This flag is representative of his fight. Not only did he cross seas during wars, he lasted four years pushing through dementia and overcoming the strokes that were slowly starting to consume him. His veteran cap lay rested on the mahogany case, where his spirit, triangularly folded in red, white, and blue lay to rest. His name Alfred Savard “Sonny” engraved as a marking of his territory in our minds. My aunt gifted us his badge for fighting, which I accepted two months before our first Christmas without him. When I received the flag, I saw my father cry for the first time. This day brought me closer to my father, in which I finally understood his emotions. My grandfather’s flag is now resting on our mantel. It is a reminder that he is constantly with us. He fought many wars, but the biggest one he fought was in his final days. Now my dad, left with his legacy, has taken on the responsibility to continue fighting. Everyday he manages to overcome new battles, and show me how to fight my own wars as well. This flag is our constant reminder that there is always a “Sonny” day in our future.

– VS

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant