Beneath an overcast Ohio sky, the body of Private First Class Peter Mitchell was laid to rest. As the rain fell down around him, Billy watched the cars leave in single file. “You ready, Billy?” his father asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m not leaving,” Billy said, pushing his father’s hand away. “I’m going to stay right here with Pete.”

“It’s O.K.,” Mindy said. “We’ll come back, Tom. He needs some time alone.”

It was still raining when they returned 20 minutes later, the rain creating small puddles around the freshly cut earth. “I told you I’m not leaving,” Billy said, staring at the ground.

Two days later, Billy was still standing by his brother’s grave. The local newspaper covered the story the following weekend with the headline “No Man Left Behind” and soon the story was circulated throughout many Internet sites, newspapers, and TV stations.

Weeks passed and veterans from around the country came in droves to pay their respects. There were war protesters too, but they were largely ignored.