Categories: FeaturesTravel

My Memorial Day Tribute to Someone Who Told me to Travel

Memorial Day is something that should be celebrated more than just once a year. To me, memories are the most valuable thing you can poses, and remembrance is the highest value that someone can leave once they’re gone. I know that Memorial Day is meant to specifically honor our past and present soldiers, but for me it has more of an impact because of how much it impacted my grandfather; a World War II Ex-Prisoner of War, who before his last days, finally told me to travel.

He hadn’t really said it before, in fact, up until his last few months, all I’d ever hear was “When are you moving back home?” or “When are you getting married?” I won’t lie and say it didn’t make me feel bad, especially when I had moved myself across the country and was constantly leaving to go travel to other countries as well.

But I always knew it was because he wanted to protect me, just like he had fought to protect our country, even though at the time, he was a resident of Cuba! Being a prisoner of war left a heavy impact on my grandfather, and the few that were closest to him could easily see it. As the “apple of his eye” or so what my family would call me, I could see the deep scars that the war left on my grandpa, but more importantly, I could see the immense magnitude of pride he had for what he did and how it affected him.

Aside from sitting next to me at any family meal since I was a kid so he could eat all the leftovers from my plate, and constantly teasing that I was “as skinny as he was when he came out of the German jail”, I also distinctly remember him proudly wearing his Ex-Prisoner of War hat on any Veteran holiday, even up until his last couple of months. Well, I also remember him saying we had to drink cognac on these holidays, because he claimed that was the first thing they found after being freed from captivity, but that’s not as easy to carry around the world in my backpack as his hat is.

My grandpa proudly wearing his Ex-Prisoner of war hat on Memorial Day 2 years ago

That being said, I’ve traveled around the world with my grandfather’s Ex-Prisoner of War hat with me, since he passed away last August. I know how proud he was to wear that hat, so it makes me proud to not only honor him as a POW/MIA, but to honor one of the last things he said to me; “That’s the thing you do that I love the most, travel.”

In the 10 months since he passed, I’ve traveled to 12 countries, 4 continents, and have seen 4 World Wonders. And with every place in the world that I go, I remember him, his life, and his legacy, so here is my tribute to him!

Machu Picchu, Peru (World Wonder)

(I carried his hat in my backpack for four days hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu!)

The Great Wall of China, China (World Wonder)

Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

The Grand Canyon, USA (World Wonder)

Fushimi Inari Shrine, Japan

Tanah Lot Temple, Indonesia

 

Alyssa Ramos

Alyssa Ramos of @MyLifesATravelMovie is one of the original Solo Female Travel Blogger/influencers for 11+ years! She's been to 140+ Countries, all 7 Continents, 7 World Wonders, 7 Wonders of Nature, and has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Everest Basecamp! Alyssa is also the original creator of Influencer-Hosted Group Trips, and hosts 4-5 adventures per year to unique, remote, and stereotypical "dangerous" places. Tap the Group Trips tab to learn more! After being fully nomadic for 8 years, she now owns an apartment in Tulum and lives part time in Italy with her fiance.

View Comments

  • Cool story. Share more info about your grandpa. It's not just the places around the world, but more so the people, that make the world such a wonderful place. I'm sure he's looking down at you with a huge grin on his face now.

Recent Posts

Uzbekistan Travel Guide: What I Wish I Knew Before Going Solo

I traveled solo to Uzbekistan and can confirm: you need to be a moderate-to-advanced traveler…

3 weeks ago

Ultimate Guide to Lalibela Ethiopia’s Surreal Rock Hewn Churches

Add Lalibela, Ethiopia and its rock-carved churches to your bucketlist with this complete travel guide!

2 months ago

Carry-On Only Island Hopping Packing List

Here's a lightweight island hopping packing list for carry-on only luggage! Just the term "island-hopping"…

2 months ago

How to Visit Corsica – The French Island the Elite Want Kept Secret

Corsica is an extremely well hidden gem in the Mediterranean that most people haven't heard…

3 months ago

What to Wear for Gorilla Trekking -Packing List

No joke, I had no idea what to wear for gorilla trekking, and luckily one…

3 months ago

How to Get to Cala Goloritze – 2025’s #1 Best Beach in the World

If you’ve ever searched for the best beaches in the world, chances are you’ve seen…

3 months ago