(Tissue box warning.)

Evan Pertile is the six-year-old son of Rachel Pertile, a generous woman who bought a group of soldiers lunch a few days before Thanksgiving. Evan was shortly therefter diagnosed with a brain tumor, and soldiers around the world have rallied around the Pertile family. He’s undergone two neurosurgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. Rachel made a blog for Evan to keep people updated on his status, and before she knew it, soldiers from around the world were sending messages of encouragement. He even was given his own set of ACUs, a beret, and a certificate naming him an honorary soldier. He got to visit Fort Jackson as a guest of Brig. Gen. Bradley May, wearing the ACUs provided by Col. Bob Burns, the director of the Center for Army Tactics at CGSC. Burns also provided patches for the ACUs, giving Evan the rank of a colonel.

Here’s some video of Evan. Make sure you have the tissues ready:

Our soldiers truly are amazing. You think you can’t get any prouder of them, and then you see something like this.

Evan’s Caring Bridge site is here. Leave him some words of encouragement.

Hat Tip: Chuck Ziegenfuss