Now that prom season is officially in full swing, you may have noticed that your timeline has been filled with pictures of everyone’s beautiful suits and gowns.
Some people have even decided to get creative and DIY their prom dresses.
That’s what Aubrey Headon did, except she decided her DIY would include a little something special.
Aubrey Headon is student at Rochelle Township High School in Rochelle, Illinois.
Aubrey hadn’t yet made her prom dress when she met Gretchen Catherwood who later helped to inspire her idea.
Gretchen is the mother of a fallen Marine in the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regimen which are also known as 3/5, or Darkhorse.
Gretchen told Aubrey about her venture to establish The Darkhorse Lodge for veterans.
It would be a non-profit organization that offers a place of retreat for veterans to experience rest, relaxation and fishing .
Hearing Gretchen’s plan inspired Aubrey, and she decided to find her own way to honor veterans.
That’s when she decided she would pay tribute to the troops who died in Afghanistan fighting for our rights with her prom dress.
In an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, Headon said that she had spent about 2 years working on making her own custom dress for prom.
The blue halter zip dress features 25 red and white ribbons that represent the colors on the American flag.
To make it even better, on each strip of fabric there is a name printed of a soldier who has passed away.
In particular, Aubrey’s dress honors those who were killed in battle between September 2010 and April 2011 in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.
“I wanted to wear this tribute dress [to] my senior prom so the memories of the guys who fell in Afghanistan for our right to live how we do and do what we do every day is carried on,” she told Yahoo . “I don’t want them to fade into nothing.”
There was one ribbon on her dress however that hit especially close to home.
On the dress is one singular black ribbon that reads, “Tyler Smith.”
Tyler was a member of the Illinois Army National Guard and graduated from the same school as Aubrey back in 2014.
He died this past September in what has been ruled as a drowning.
Veterans and families of those lost in battle have been outpouring support and thanks to Aubrey.
On her mother’s Facebook page, people left heart-warming comments about how much Aubrey’s gesture meant to them.
M’Lissa Kenison-Kuhnle on Facebook commented and said, “You are a beautiful soul. Thank You for my brother who came back from Vietnam terribly mentally and physically damaged. For my husband who has PTSD. For my sons who served in the Iraq war in 2005. For the Families who wait at home not knowing what the future will bring.”
Aubrey and her mother said the biggest outpouring of support has come from the Gold Star families who have thanked her for making the dress.
Just when you think this story couldn’t get any better, Aubrey also revealed that in addition to her beautiful tribute, Aubrey also helps fund raise every year for The Darkhorse Lodge.
How amazing is that?!
