On March 18, I lost my hero. My father Steven was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Army. While I was honored to know him, he never had the chance to know another extraordinary hero in my family: his own father.

Sgt. Allen F. Langille was killed in action during World War II when my father was only 3 years old. I never truly knew my grandfather’s incredible story until I came across a Purple Heart when I was snooping in my parents’ bedroom one day. The story of how he earned two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Distinguished Service Cross is truly remarkable.