When Erin Hester saw a lone U.S. soldier standing at attention in the pouring rain, she was moved by his quiet act of respect. It was July 6, 2017, in Vine Grove, Kentucky. Hester sat at a highway intersection when she noticed the soldier had stepped out of his vehicle and stood silently as a funeral procession passed by.
He wasn’t part of the ceremony, nor did he know the deceased — yet he chose to honor them. Hester captured the moment and shared it online, writing: “This gentleman went above and beyond. This made my heart happy to see the amount of respect that this gentleman showed a family that he doesn’t even know.”
The image quickly went viral. Soon after, the soldier was identified as Colonel Jack L. Usrey of the Tennessee Army National Guard. When reached for comment, he humbly deflected praise, saying: “My first thoughts were about how the bad weather can’t be helping how the family feels, and I was hoping my small action would let them know we care.”
He credited his parents for teaching him respect from an early age. A simple gesture, yes — but one that powerfully reminded many of the value of quiet dignity.