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Friday was going to be a tough day for Brandon Buttry’s family. It was the day they were supposed to greet him on his return to Fort Lewis, Wash. But he died Nov. 5 in Afghanistan. Still the family found a way to smile on this difficult day.
My family has had an emotionally exhausting month since my nephew, Pfc Brandon Buttry died in a watch tower in Afghanistan. The Army doesn’t want troop movements mentioned publicly, so we refrained from disclosing an agonizing detail of the death: Brandon was killed 10 days before he was supposed to leave Afghanistan. His funeral in Shenandoah, Iowa, was on the day he was supposed to head home. His parents, Don and Pam, were making plans to travel to Fort Lewis for his return home, scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving.When I talked with Don on the phone Thanksgiving Day, I could tell that Friday was going to be a tough day for the family. They were planning to drive to Pella, Iowa, to spend the day with their adult daughter, Mandy, and her family. By the time they got to Pella, they had a great idea. They emailed family and friends, telling them Brandon had said he wanted to celebrate his return to Fort Lewis with a cheeseburger, an order of fries and a large Coke. They asked us to enjoy a cheeseburger, fries and a large Coke in his honor. Their daughter Missy Rock and I shared the request on Facebook and things kind of took off.
We have more than 100 burgers photographed and mentioned here, if I count correctly, and Don tells me many more were consumed by Pam’s relatives, who weren’t asked to post them on social media.
Let’s continue the burger salute through the weekend. Tag or message me on Facebook if you post a photo there. Or mention me (@stevebuttry) in a tweet. I’ll update with the photos posted Saturday and Sunday.
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My brother, Don, and his wife, Pam, had been planning to go to Fort Lewis, Wash., today to meet Brandon on his return from Afghanistan. He was killed 10 days before his scheduled departure. He told his parents he wanted to get a cheeseburger, fries and a large Coke on his return. Don and Pam are encouraging his family and friends to remember Brandon today with a cheeseburger, fries and a large Coke (the Thanksgiving leftovers can wait till Saturday). Mimi and I will be going to Five Guys this evening (yes, quite a sacrifice) and posting a photo of our meal. If you’re joining us in the cheeseburger tribute, please post a photo and we’ll share them with Don and Pam (who aren’t on FB).0
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Of course, lots of Buttry family members toasted Brandon with burgers:
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This is my wife, Mimi Johnson, who wishes I had cleaned off the counter behind her before snapping this photo (but the fries were getting cold).
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We have lots more photos to come, perhaps you’d enjoy a little music as you browse through them:
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Jimmy Buffett – Cheeseburger In Paradise0
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Missy and her husband, Andrew, joined in.
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No one in the extended family understands what Brandon’s family is going through as well as the Devlins, who lost their son and brother Patrick (the same age as Brandon and probably each other’s closest cousin) in 2009. Kat Devlin and her parents, Carol and John, posted four photos from their cheeseburger salute, apparently spilling their Coke and winning points for the best use of ketchup.
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Our son Mike’s in-laws joined the burger salute.
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Mike and Susie’s friends hoisted burgers in Brandon’s honor.
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Trevor Cohenour, a close friend of Brandon’s from basic training, who led the Soldier’s Creed at his funeral, ate a burger for his buddy and wears Brandon’s name on his wrist.
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Mimi’s family also joined.
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Cousins of Brandon and Don saluted as well.
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Even a 95-year-old great aunt joined the salute from her nursing home.
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Adding to the cheeseburger salutes, mom was able to have a cheeseburger for lunch at her residence dining, but no fries or coke on the menu But she was very happy to be able to have a cheeseburger for Brandon.0
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This is one of the coolest cheeseburger salutes, a whole grill in Brandon’s honor from a journalist friend and the in-laws he was visiting in Georgia (be sure to click through the full album, nine photos in all.
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Other journalist friends joined the burger salute:
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A slight correction to Dan’s post: I used to work at API but now work for Digital First Media.
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.@stevebuttry A cheeseburger, fries and a Coke at @whitecastle in honor of Brandon. http://pic.twitter.com/Jeqfpbi5
— Dennis Anderson (@dennisedit)
a day ago -
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Eating burgers tonight in Toronto in honor of fallen hero Brandon Buttry! Love n prayers for his family. @stevebuttry http://pic.twitter.com/Yije4DVV
— Denise Li (@lailaoshi)
19 hours ago -
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Cheeseburger for Brandon! @stevebuttry http://pic.twitter.com/NILtNWlr
— Rick Sforza (@RickSforza)
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And other friends joined in.
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@stevebuttry Cheeseburgers in Boyne City MI for Brandon! #USA http://pic.twitter.com/XSCrJaW4
— Kurt Schwarz (@RealLifeHusband)
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My Washington, D.C., friends bought some awesome burgers in Brandon’s honor:
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RT @donw: On Brandon’s behalf. I can’t drink caffeine this late but ill have the soda in the morning. 4 @stevebuttry @mimijohnson http://pic.twitter.com/CWBEeQQX
— Steve Buttry (@stevebuttry)
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@donw @tiffany @tbridge Thanks! Love the little flag!
— Steve Buttry (@stevebuttry)
2 days ago -
@stevebuttry @tiffany @tbridge apparently standard at this restaurant. It was indeed fortuitous.
— Don Whiteside™ (@donw)
2 days ago -
RT @tbridge: For PFC Brandon Buttry. Sorry, man. (Cc @stevebuttry, @mimijohnson) http://pic.twitter.com/ATQB9eBT
— Steve Buttry (@stevebuttry)
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RT @tiffany: @stevebuttry @mimijohnson thinking of you tonight. http://pic.twitter.com/pAkGIjK7
— Steve Buttry (@stevebuttry)
2 days ago -
@stevebuttry stopped at Five Guys on way back from BWI. Didn’t think to take a photo before I ate, though.
— Samuel Chamberlain (@SChamberlainSBN)
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This cheeseburger salute came from a former co-worker of Brandon’s at — appropriately — the McDonald’s where they met and worked together.
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Other family friends joined, and some people who just heard about the cheeseburger and wanted to salute a fallen soldier who didn’t get home to enjoy his own burger.
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We had cheeseburgers & fries last night too. I hope Brandon doesn’t mind though – Sarah opted for the chicken nuggets 🙂0
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Couldn’t eat one in Dallas but did in NY in his honor.0
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Many of these Facebook photos have lots of good comments, so I encourage Brandon’s family and friends to click on the photos and read the comments. But I wanted to highlight this comment by the man who posted the photo above:
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The salt packet reminds us of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.0
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The salute got a bit of notice from Brandon’s hometown media.
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Family faces holiday without soldier | News | KMA Radio
KMAland.com brings you news, weather, sports, agriculture news, and more. Listen Now to broadcasts, Dean and Don, Chuck and Don, E-Shop, …0
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And, of course, in Pella, Brandon’s huge family enjoyed a lot of burgers.
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On a day that was difficult for Brandon’s family, eating cheeseburgers in his honor brought smiles through sorrow.
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Maybe I missed your photo (or tweet or update noting your participation in the salute). Or maybe you’ll join us today. Either way, if you’re participating in the cheeseburger salute, let me know and I’ll add you in an update. Brandon had a great smile (below, with his cousin Patrick) and he loved a good cheeseburger. So we’re remembering him with a cheeseburger and a smile.
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Brandon Buttry’s cheeseburger salute brings smiles in sorrow
November 24, 2012 by Steve Buttry
Thanks a MILLION to all who honored our son today with their meal. It was a very difficult day, but it meant a whole lot to us!!!God Bless you!!!!!
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Steve, wish I’d seen this earlier! I would have sent it to your MediaOne family! Can we do the honors this week?
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Absolutely!
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What a wonderful way to commemorate Brandon Buttry. The family has my deep sympathies.
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