TUSTIN — Among those who haven’t been directly affected by the horrors of war, Memorial Day may seem like just another three-day holiday weekend.
Sure, people understand that the day is meant to honor those who’ve lost their lives while serving in the military, but that meaning can be easy to forget while enjoying a relaxing day in the sun with family and friends.
For Don and Carole Akers, however, the meaning of the day is never forgotten.
“It’s always on our mind, whether it’s Memorial Day or not,” Don said. “It’s not a Memorial Day thing for us. It’s every day.”
Those who’ve been in the military or experienced the loss of a loved one to war understand why Memorial Day is so important and not just a day off work, Don said.
On Nov. 21, 2005, the Akers’ adopted son, Spencer, was severely injured in a landmine explosion while on patrol with his Michigan National Guard unit in Iraq.
Spencer lived for a couple of weeks after the explosion, although he never regained consciousness. He died on Dec. 8 at the age of 35. Five other men in his unit also died from injuries they sustained in the explosion.
Don said it’s important for him to stay vigilant in honoring military men and women for the sacrifice they’ve made for this country. He does this in a number of ways, including volunteering to lower the American flag to half staff whenever necessary at the Sherman Township Hall.
The Akers have stayed in contact with the men who served with Spencer.
Some have visited his gravestone at the Sherman Township Cemetery and shared a shot of whiskey with Don in Spencer’s honor.
Spencer was adopted by the Akers when he was 14 months old. Don remembers immediately forming a close bond with the boy, who would fall asleep on his chest every day after they brought him home.
As Spencer grew up, he developed a deep interest in serving in the military; Don said part of that interest likely grew as a result of stories that he told Spencer about his time serving in the Air Force in the late 1950s. Don was able to visit many parts of the world during his time in the military and has always been proud to have served his country.
“I don’t think I would change one minute of what I did in the military,” Don said.
Spencer served in the U.S. Army, the Army Reserves and Army National Guard. He volunteered to serve in Operation Desert Storm and then he volunteered for Operation Iraqi Freedom following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
There were times when Don could tell that Spencer was affected by what he experienced in the service. When he returned home from a deployment, he was often quiet and withdrawn, although Don said many people depended on him, so he stayed busy.
Don said Spencer was a caring and compassionate person who was known for going out of his way to help his family, friends and even complete strangers.
When he worked security at a bar in Traverse City, Don said Spencer every night would walk the female staff members to their cars in the parking lot to ensure they made it safely.
Don said there also was a time when he took in a couple of men off the street who had no place to go, letting them stay at his apartment until they got back on their feet. Don said Spencer never charged either of them a nickel.
Spencer was a loyal friend and positive influence on those who knew him. Don said he recently heard from the parents of two of his friends who told him they likely would be either dead or in prison if not for Spencer.
To top it all, Don said the day that Spencer was injured in Iraq, he volunteered to take the place of a fellow serviceman who had a family back home. If not for Spencer’s selfless act, Don said that serviceman with a family would have been in that patrol when the landmine went off.
“He had a desire to help, to watch over people,” Don said.
It’s been nearly 20 years since Spencer’s death but Don said there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that they haven’t thought about him.
“It’s sometimes good and sometimes bad, as far as pulling up all these memories,” Don said. “He was a good man ... he was a good boy.”
