4-Year-Old Son’s Emotional Goodbye To Hero Father Touches Nation’s Heart

May 13, 2019 by apost team

The family of Seargent Joseph Lemm eagerly awaited his call from Afghanistan one December day. Only four days remained before Christmas and a few words with Lemm would do a lot to brighten the day for his family.

Sgt. Lemm's wife and two children would never receive the call they awaited.

The tragic news they received instead was that a suicide bomber attacked a patrol in which Lemm participated. The forty-five-year-old Lemm was one of six people who lost their lives in the attack.

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Joseph Lemm was a member of the United States Air Force. He was deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. Lemm grew up in a small Nebraska town but chose the big city over a life on the farm. Lemm loved sports and dreamed of being both a soldier and a police officer.

Lemm worked as a New York Police officer for 15 years and received a promotion to detective a short time ago.

He was commended numerous times during his military service and was highly respected in both his careers.

Lemm received the Liberty Medal from the New York Post in 2006 when he risked his life to catch three suspects in the vicious stabbing of a teenager. His co-workers called him superman in reference to his size and bravery.

A former partner of Joseph Lemm, Detective John McCrossman, told CNN that working alongside Lemm was like working with a superhero.

McCrossman says Lemm always put the interests of others above those of himself.

Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the flags of all New York state buildings to be flown at half-mast to honor Lemm. Thousands of officers in the city turned out to honor the fallen officer.

The services for the fallen officer and soldier were held at St. Patrick's Cathedral. And as his coffin was carried from the cathedral, Ryan, Lemm's four-year-old son, saluted his father one last time.

The photograph of the moment reminds us of the true cost of warfare. The photo reminds many people of a young John F Kennedy Jr. giving a similar salute at his father's funeral. Lemm's 17-year-old daughter read verses from Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes in the bible at her father's funeral.

Do you appreciate the sacrifice Joseph Lemm made for his country? Do you feel for his wife and family? Send this article to everyone you know and remind them to keep Joseph Lemm and his family in their thoughts and prayers.