“Hey Nick, what's the matter?" Judy asked, seeing that Nick wasn't acting like his usual self.



“Oh, it’s nothing Carrots. Nothing at all…” He said, looking out the window of their apartment to the Memorial Day Celebration parade down on the streets below.



"Nick, I know something's wrong. You can tell me the truth.”



Nick sighed as Judy sat down next to him.



“Have I ever told you about my grandfather, my dad’s dad?”



“No, I don’t think you have.”



“Well let me tell you the story.” He adjusted his chair a bit before speaking up again. “65 years ago, back when my dad was just a boy, the world was divided, and war broke out between two factions, plunging the world into a war the likes of which it never saw. You already know all that though, so let me get to the personal story. Anyways, Grandpa decided to enlist in the Marines, to help the Allies win the war. He went to one of the boot camps and when his training was complete he was shipped off to the Pawcific to fight for his country. He used to write letters back home at least once a week, to let his wife and son know how he was doing. Then one day he just went silent. Two weeks later Grandma got the news that he passed, bled out from a bullet wound he sustained trying to save a comrade.” He tried his best to hold back the tears but they began to flow. “My poor old man had to grow up without a father in his life, and his poor mom was never the same…”



Judy began to feel a sense of sadness overcome her as she wrapped an arm around Nick.



“I’m so sorry.” she said, holding back tears of her own.



“Don’t mention it. I’m going to go to his grave later today to pay my respects, you can come along if you want I guess.”



“I’ll come. Don’t worry.”



—————



Nick and Judy walked through the cemetery silently, passing by rows of stones after stones, each marked with the name of someone who died in battle and with a miniature Zootopian flag planted at the base. Eventually, Nick stopped at one particular stone, and read the name.



“Pvt. Robert Wilde”



“This is it, hand me the wreath.” Judy handed him the floral wreath, wrapped in a ribbon displaying the Zootopian national colors. Nick places the wreath at the base of the tombstone and saluted



“Love you Grandpa, even though I never knew you.” He began to tear up again as Judy also raised her right paw in salute. The two stood there in silence for a moment before beginning their way out of the cemetery.



To all the brave men and women who died in service of their country. Happy Memorial Day everyone.