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LEHI — Every morning, Monday through Friday, drivers can find rush-hour traffic on I-15, unless it's a major holiday.
But talk to anyone standing on the 600 East bridge over I-15 in Lehi on Wednesday and they'll say Veterans Day should be one of the biggest holidays of them all.
"It's really easy to forget. It's a Wednesday and it's hard," said Jonathan Walker.
Veterans Day means a lot to Walker, so much so that last year, all by himself, he got on that bridge and started saluting drivers in cars going by. That one event has now turned into something bigger, which included three dozen veterans.
"Personally, it's an amazing experience," he said. "I'm happy. I'm sure by the end of the day I'll be physically and emotionally exhausted. But how could it be better?"
Walker calls this "Standing Quietly." The idea is basically veterans on bridges saluting drivers going by. It's a chance for people to honk as they drive by to give thanks to veterans.
Related:
Veterans Day 'mystery soldier' not anonymous anymore
The identity of the "mystery soldier" who stood in silent salute on a Lehi overpass this past Veterans Day is a mystery no more. Jonathan Walker said he wanted to remain anonymous, until he realized how big his one act of patriotism could become.For some veterans, it's a chance to finally feel loved.
"It wasn't like that when I got home," said Quin Allred, a Vietnam veteran. "A lot of us got spit on; a lot of us just put our uniforms away and forgot all about the service."
"It's kind of sad. There was a lot of lost friends," said Bob Taylor, who also served in Vietnam.
However, this event was also about making new friends and teaching the schoolchildren who showed up what Veterans Day means.
"To see this, it just kind of bolsters my faith that, hey, we can be strong again," Taylor said.
"Standing Quietly" wasn't just happening in Lehi. Since last year, Walker has heard from several groups doing the same thing.
"It's hard for a veteran to do," he said. "It's hard to do what I'm doing. This is not in our nature. It's not what we're taught, but sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone to help our brothers and sisters."
