Nicholas Pinkerton cleans a soldier's grave in Fischer, Texas.
Shutterstock.com (flag); Warriors Remembrance and Research Foundation, Inc. (Nicholas Pinkerton)
Honoring Heroes
Early last year, Nicholas Pinkerton discovered a big problem. The graves of many veterans near his hometown of Spring Branch, Texas, were covered in weeds. Some of the gravestones had sunk into the ground. Nicholas couldn’t believe it.
“These veterans risked their lives for our freedom,” says the 11-year-old.
Nicholas decided to do something. With his dad’s help, he set out to clean and maintain veterans’ graves throughout Texas.
Restoring Honor
In March 2024, Nicholas started an organization called the Warriors Remembrance and Research Foundation. Its mission is to maintain community cemeteries, where more than three-quarters of the nation’s veterans are buried. Many of these cemeteries aren’t as well cared for as bigger national ones. Those are run by the U.S. government.
Enter Nicholas and his dad, who served for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. They spend almost every weekend at community cemeteries. The father and son scrub and take care of many of the veterans’ gravestones. Nicholas also places a special bronze medallion near each one. The medallion indicates which branch of the military the veteran served in.
Today Nicholas cares for about 600 graves in 13 cemeteries across Texas. He says the brave people who serve our country deserve respect.
“All veterans should be remembered,” Nicholas says.
