The Memorial Day Murders

Chapter 42 : All's well that ends well

A week later

Bruce knocked on the door of our bedroom when I have finished pinning the ribbon bars on my military dress uniform. Since discovering that I am pregnant with our first child Bruce decided to stay beside me and he is now going with me to attend the Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National. My grandparents including my uncle and cousins, are also joining us but I'm not sure about why my grandparents decision to come along. Taking the pair of white gloves and the military peak hat I opened the door to meet with him. He wore a charcoal gray suit for the occasion. "This is your real formal wear?" he asked. 

"It is." I replied. "I usually wore a beret but not for today." we bumped into my grandparents when we descended the stairs. Strangely enough my grandfather is wearing an army service uniform while my grandmother is helping him to pin the ribbon bars on his uniform. 

"Your grandfather served in the military?" Bruce whispered.

"He fought in two wars : the Korean War and the Vietnam War." I replied. "He is a South Korean Marine." because of their sudden visit my father surprisingly invited them to stay in the White House for the time being but Jun-myeon and Baek-hyun can't decide whether to stay or not and chose to stay at their barracks in the Navy SEALs training school. 

"Where do you have your meals while staying here Isabella?" grandmother asked me, still helping grandfather for any final adjustments. "The White House is bigger than I have imagined."

"Is everybody ready?" President Reagan, who came out of nowhere asked. Grandfather levelled a gaze at the President, whom is also wearing his own Army Service Uniform. The president himself returned the gaze and saw the ribbon bars grandfather obtained during his time in the Korean and Vietnam War respectively. "You served in the Vietnam War before sir?"

"My husband is a former Marine." grandmother replied. 

"You know this?" the President then asked me.

"How could I not know Mr. President?" I asked. "I always listened to his war stories before going to bed when my mother is not around."

"I retired when the war in Vietnam ended." grandfather explained. 

Arlington National Cemetery 

The Marines carried the memorial wreath while marching per their protocol as we followed behind. Standing from a point the Secret Service deemed it safety faint clickings were heard from the reporters, whom have raced to the cemetery to cover the laying of the memorial wreath and catch a glimpse from the Vice President of the United States, due to an anonymous tip, has been found safe but injured. My grandparents remained close, along with Bruce, granting the media the chance to capture photos of my grandparents. My grandfather is a well-known Marine in South Korea but I doubt that the American media knows about it. As the wreath is placed and the Marines stepped away we saluted in front of the memorial cenotaph. Then I departed, following my grandparents to the hill where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is built. Realization struck me as I remembered from his wartime stories that he has known  soldiers that did not make it home during the wars he had fought in. "Rest in peace, old friends." he said, and instead of his native tongue, his spoke in English upon laying another memorial wreath.

I leaned against Bruce's shoulder, his hand resting against my womb, where our baby is now developing and growing inside. "War is hell, those who have never fought in them cannot comprehend the carnage compared to those who have seen bloodshed." I said. 

"Uriah?" a male voice asked. Much to my surprise, the voice belonged to George Duncan. 

"George." he replied. "I haven't seen you since the war."

"I heard that you were in town and decided to... I apologize Madam Vice President." the general said in an awkward tone as he did not see me just now. I nodded politely. "How are you?"

"I have been well George." he replied. 

"Are you married?" he asked.

"I am going to be a great-grandfather in the future George, my granddaughter is expecting her first child with her husband."

"Did you have children?" grandfather said nothing but he gestured at my direction. 

"How can I not have any children when I already have grandchildren."

"You two are related?"

"Isabella is my granddaughter through my daughter, Alice. You have been her commanding officer, from Afghanistan to Syria." the general promptly nodded. The two old friends walked away while chatting and headed towards a small group of veterans not far from our location.

"I didn't expect him to have a western name." I told grandmother. 

"But I do." she replied. "Let the veterans gather together, you need to rest." smiling at the direction we too departed from the cemetery.