Gold Star widow's Memorial Day request to visit her husband's Arlington grave sparks viral response

"There's just something about knowing people still stop by, still say his name, still remember," she added.

"There's a lot of guilt that comes with that," she told the outlet. "So I thought maybe somebody could swing by and take a picture and remember him."

Shaw's request quickly went viral, drawing more than 6 million views and hundreds of comments on X, with users sharing messages and photos of themselves leaving flowers at Shaw's grave.

"It was an honor to visit your husband's grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects," Gabbard, who served in the Army National Guard and deployed to Iraq, wrote on X. "It was wonderful to see the beautiful flowers representing many others who did the same. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to the loved ones they left behind."

Gabbard also shared a photo of herself placing a challenge coin on the headstone.

"But today showed me that Alan will never be forgotten... This right here is the America Alan knew and loved enough to fight and die for. And today, y'all showed us all that it's still here and it's still worth fighting for," she added.