Why I Created This Theme

Some designs come from creativity. Others come from love. The Stars and Stripes – USAF Memorial Program came from both — and from one man whose life embodied courage, service, and heart.

My husband loved to fly. He served proudly in the U.S. Air Force, and even years after his service, that love of the skies never left him. When he talked about flying, his eyes would light up with the same joy a child has the first time they look out an airplane window. It wasn’t just the thrill of it — it was the freedom, the perspective, the quiet peace above the clouds.

A Tribute Born from Love and Honor

He had faced so much in life, including multiple strokes that slowly limited what he could do. But through it all, he carried himself with quiet strength. He knew his time on earth was drawing shorter, and rather than wait, he chose to prepare — not out of fear, but out of love for those he’d leave behind.

We talked one afternoon about the memorial templates I was creating. I asked him gently, “If you could choose, which one would feel like you?”

He smiled and said, “The Air Force. I want something that reflects who I was — and who I still am.”

That was how Stars and Stripes – USAF began. We built it together — every color, every phrase, every detail was chosen with care. He made sure the blues felt strong but peaceful, the layout dignified but full of light.

Honoring Those Who Serve

In the process, he helped shape the entire Honored Veterans line — four collections representing the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines. He wanted each one to carry the same sense of pride and respect that those branches deserve. “Get the colors right,” he told me with a smile. “They’ll notice if you don’t.”

He even wrote parts of his obituary himself — not out of vanity, but so his story would be told truthfully and with heart. It was one of the most tender acts of love I’ve ever witnessed: a man choosing how he wished to be remembered, not in sorrow, but in gratitude for the life he’d lived and the people he loved.

Why Planning Ahead Can Be a Gift

I know this topic can feel heavy. But there’s something sacred about preparing these things together, when you can still hold hands and talk and remember. For families facing hospice or long-term care, it can be a gentle, healing experience — a way to say, “We’ll do this your way, with love.”

For me, this design became more than a program. It became a promise kept — that he would be honored exactly as he wished, with dignity, beauty, and the freedom of the open skies he loved so much.

My Forever Wingman

When I look at this design now, I see more than patriotism or military honor. I see my husband’s spirit — brave, faithful, full of love. I see him soaring above the clouds again, steady and strong, wrapped in light.

This one’s for you, my sweet polar bear.
Fly high.

See it on Etsy 

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