@elliegoldenlife
Golden Retriever Life#USAAPartner Less than half of Americans know the true meaning of Memorial Day. It’s not about thanking veterans for their service. It’s a day to pause, honor, and remember the men and women who gave their lives while serving. Two years ago, we visited the @USAA Poppy Wall of Honor in Washington, D.C., which contains over 600,000 poppies, each representing a life lost in service to our country since World War I. While we were there, a woman named Heidi came up to meet Ellie and Emma after hearing their names, the same names as her granddaughters. That simple moment turned into a conversation I’ll never forget. She told me about her son, PFC Jacob H. Wykstra. Later that night, I realized something I didn’t expect. The day Jacob was killed in Afghanistan, I was there. I was part of the crew sent to recover the helicopter he was in. Ten years later, we found ourselves standing in the same place as his mom. Jacob was 21 years old and just two weeks from coming home. He loved dogs, made people smile, and had a way of lifting everyone around him. Behind every poppy is someone whose story deserves to be remembered. This Memorial Day, please take a moment to remember them. If you want to learn more or find ways to honor the fallen, visit usaa.com/memorialday #PoppyInMemory #MemorialDay #service
On the profile · May 19, 2026