Share on FacebookOn Memorial Day in Wilmington, North Carolina, seven-year-old Mason Lee joined his family in placing American flags on the graves of fallen soldiers.
As his mother, Sarah Lee, watched, she noticed Mason sitting quietly beside one particular headstone — the grave of Sgt. TJ Butler, a soldier who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2012.
Curious, Sarah asked what he was doing. “Mason had a lot of questions,” she said. “He wanted to know if Sgt. Butler had a family, if he had children. You could tell he understood that this was someone’s son, someone’s daddy.”
A Tribute Remembered
A year later, Mason and his family returned to the cemetery. This time, he brought something special. He had drawn a picture featuring the American flag and a shield that looked like Captain America’s, and he left it at Sgt. Butler’s grave.
“It must have made a huge impact on him to be that young and remember something like that,” Sarah said.
A Gift Returned
When Sgt. Butler’s mother, Leslie, learned about the tribute, and she was deeply moved. Wanting to thank Mason, she arranged to meet him in person. When they met, Leslie gave him a Captain America toy to show her appreciation for his kindness.
“TJ’s teachers always called him a social butterfly,” Leslie said with a smile. “So I think he still is. He’s connecting with people even now.”
A Promise That Lives On
Mason now plans to visit Sgt. Butler’s grave every year to place a flag there. “As long as Mason is here, he’ll place his flag here,” Leslie said. “I can be happy knowing that Mason will always give TJ his flag.”
For a young boy who simply wanted to show gratitude, Mason’s thoughtful act became a symbol of remembrance, kindness, and the powerful bond between generations.
