FORT GIBSON, Okla. — As families paid their respects throughout Fort Gibson National Cemetery, one mother held a private ceremony to honor the fallen, and remember her son who she lost 13 years ago.
Bonnie Harper watches over all 22 thousand-plus headstones in the cemetery. She calls the heroes buried there her babies. Every December, she collects donations and places wreaths on every grave.
But her son's grave is not in Fort Gibson. His grave marker is in Arlington National Cemetery.
Harper's son BJ died in Iraq in 2007. She remembers him by walking through the rows of head stones, and making sure each are properly honored on days like Memorial Day.
"It makes me remember why I’m still here. These men and women died for our freedom,” Harper said.
While the cemetery could not hold a public ceremony because of the pandemic, Harper laid a wreath with BJ's face in the middle, and watched as the central flag was raised up to the top of its mast.
“I thank God for giving me my son, and allowing me to have him in my life,“ Harper said.
This holiday weekend, Harper asks families to pause for a moment and be thankful for their freedom, and hug each other a little tighter.
"Don’t take life for granted. Tell the ones you love you love them today, because tomorrow they might not be here,” Harper said.
Harper says she is always collecting donations for wreaths to honor the fallen. If you would like to sponsor a wreath to be laid on a veteran's grave, click here.
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