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The husband and I went to Portland the other day and as we were walking along Commercial Street in the Old Port, I suggested we go see his face.

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This requires explanation, I know.

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As a Christmas surprise for my favorite hero, I purchased a spot on the wall in his honor in 2009.

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I chose his boot camp graduation photo… and as the years go by we always get a kick out of seeing his innocent baby face.

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19 years old and sent to war.

Returning safely, but forever changed.

As we stood there looking at the wall, two young women with a large group of children stopped as well. They said hello… and started telling the children what the wall was for, whose faces were engraved and why it’s important to recognize veterans and their sacrifices.

One of the women looked over at my husband, saw his Marine Corps hat and thanked him for his service. The children all glanced over, heard my husband say thank you and tell the woman that he was actually on the wall they had come to see.

As he pointed out his picture the kind woman said, “You look exactly the same!” … which tickled us both as a sweet and ridiculous statement, but it what was one of the little girls said that made both of us choke up.

She looked at the picture on the wall, looked at my husband and said,”Mom… he’s a real live hero.”

❤️

She’s right of course.

He’s my real live hero, and always will be.

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