Cub Scout crawls grave to grave, honoring the dead

The Tennessean ^ | 05/25/03 | By HOLLY EDWARDS

[dewee]

Pivoting his body with his right arm and holding a neon-green ruler in his left hand, James Milam, 10, crawled from grave to grave at Nashville National Cemetery yesterday morning, carefully placing an American flag exactly one foot from each gravestone.

The energetic fourth-grader took the task seriously.

[dewee]

I hope I'm doing this right

[snippy_about_it]

dewee - Perfect. Thank you and welcome to FreeRepublic.

SAMWolf, bring tissues.

[hole_n_one]

[dixiechick2000]

You couldn't have done it any better.

Thank you for posting such a heart-warming story.

[Under the Radar]

Beautiful story, thank you for posting it.

[SAMWolf]

You did perfect. This kid puts 90% of Hollywood and Politicians to shame

[crazykatz]

Thank you for posting this wonderful story!!

I loved the whole article especially this part:

"The sociable youngster is popular among his classmates and fellow Scouts.

'The boys constantly fight over who's going to be with James,' den leader Patti Neary said.

'He is all personality.'

After spending several hours placing dozens of flags at gravestones, James admits to being tired, especially his right arm, as his father pushes him back to the car in his wheelchair. Next on the agenda is a car wash to raise money for a youth summer camp sponsored by his church, Halltown General Baptist.

'I could disable him if I smothered him, but I want him to do everything he can do and be independent,'' Cindi Milam said. ''From the night he was born, I felt God had a higher calling for him. We're blessed to have such a happy child.'

I think the Lord has poured his blessings on this wonderful family and child.

May God continue to bless them and keep them safe. The angels smile upon this little boy and God shows his miracles through such children as this.

[knighthawk]

Must see this.

[knighthawk]

Thanks for the ping and article.

This is so moving. Give you a new hope for future generations.

[knighthawk]

Nothing to Freep, but come look at this!

[bluesagewoman]

He puts most of us to shame! What a wonderful kid!

[zip]

dewee - Perfect. Thank you and welcome to FreeRepublic

Ditto from Mid Missouri Patriots

[ZOOKER]

Without even mentioning abortion, this is a most powerful argument against it.

How many doctors would counsel prospective parents to get rid of such a "burden on society"?

[pabianice]

Though he dreams of being a pilot, his parents said, he has settled on becoming an air traffic controller instead. ''He knew he couldn't fly a plane, but he said he can help it land,'' said his father, Jim Milam, whose father founded Milam's Optical Service. ''He has absolutely no self-pity. If he can't do something, he figures a way around it.''

Absolutely not! Paraplegics can fly and get their pilot's license with hand controls installed in the airplane. There are several schools and instructors in the US who specialize in this.

AOPA: take note!

[McGavin999]

Oh dear, that brought tears to the eyes. What a wonderful child.

[TEXOKIE]

Thanks for the ping, SAMWolf! What do you think of posting a link to it for us on the troop prayer thread? I think it is really beautiful and very appropriate! Thanks again!

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks, folks !!

[Doctor Raoul]

Out of all of the gay activists that have waged a campaign of hurting kids in the hopes that the adult leaders of the Boys Scouts will cave in, I'd bet that not one able bodied gay activist has every put a flag on a veteran's grave.

It's too unselfish an act for those kind of people.

God bless this kid.

[ken in texas]

You did just fine.

There are many different stories posted on this site... some make me laugh, others make me think or get angry. But most of all I appreciate the stories like this that bring tears to my eyes.

[cherry_bomb88]

Sam, thanks for the ping...

dewee, that is the sweetest story I've seen this Memorial Day. Sam's right, this kid has put all of hollyweird to shame.