Meet Preston Sharp
THE FOUNDER
THE STORY
How it all got started…
On Veterans Day 2015, Preston visited his grandfather's grave at a Redding cemetery, where he placed a flag and some flowers. As a 10-year-old, he noticed the absence of flags and flowers on the graves. This left him upset about the lack of honor shown to local veterans on Veterans Day.
When his mother April shared with Preston the importance of not just complaining about something, but doing something about it! He looked up at his mom with determination and said, "it’s not right and I am going to do something about it!"
Immediately, he started raising money for flags and flowers by doing chores around the house. That night, Preston set a goal to place a flag and flower on the graves of each veteran at that cemetery in Redding, CA. However, this goal quickly expanded to include other cemeteries in the Redding area, as well as those in surrounding counties.
When Preston or a volunteer honors a Veteran with a flag and flower, very important to say the veterans name out loud and thank you for your service. We do this because a Veterans name not sit out loud, is that Veteran forgotten.
Preston does not just honor the fallen veterans…
Preston visits local veterans' homes to listen to their stories and takes them out for lunch or dinner. He even expressed to his mom that his Christmas wish wasn't to receive the laptop he had been asking for, but rather to adopt a veteran's dog, allowing the veteran to see the dog whenever desired. This gesture was particularly meaningful because the veteran resided in a veterans' home where dogs were not permitted.
How can you help?
If you join Preston Sharp in his mission, it is important to say the veteran's name aloud and express gratitude by saying "thank you for your service," while placing the national flag and an artificial red carnation.
Preston emphasizes the significance of speaking the veteran's name aloud, as a veteran whose name remains unspoken is a veteran who is forgotten.
