It was 6:40 a.m. at Reagan National Airport when Thomas Grady wheeled his modest suitcase into Terminal C. The retired U.S. Army sergeant, now 84 years old, moved slowly but deliberately, leaning heavily on a black metal cane with a taped-up grip. He’d booked this flight to San Diego two months in advance—row 7A, aisle seat, extra legroom—on purpose. It was the only part of travel he could still control.
Beside him was a neatly folded note from his late wife. “Come visit me,” it said. She’d passed eight years ago, buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Every summer since, he made the trip to sit by her grave on June 22nd—their wedding anniversary.
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