Soldier Gets Out of His Car and Salutes in the Pouring Rain for the Most Patriotic Reason [VIDEO]

A Soldier's Rain-Soaked Salute to a Fallen Veteran

Sometimes the most meaningful gestures come from putting others first. That is exactly what happened when a soldier pulled his vehicle to the side of the road in Fort Hood, Texas, and stepped out into the pouring rain to honor a military veteran's funeral procession as it slowly passed by. He stood firm and saluted until the final vehicle in the procession had driven past, holding his salute for a fallen brother.

As he explained to KWTX, the age or era of service did not matter to him: whether the veteran had served in World War II, Vietnam, or Iraq, whether they were 80 years old or just 20, the bond of brotherhood was what counted. He wanted the family to know that he and others were grateful for the veteran's sacrifice and that their fight mattered to someone.

Kenneth Varnes also shared that the downpour seemed to ease into a light drizzle the moment he stepped out, only to intensify again once the procession had passed and he was back inside his vehicle. The touching display of patriotism went viral after a photo of Kenneth saluting was captured.

Soldier saluting a military funeral procession in the rain
A soldier stands in the rain to salute a veteran's funeral procession

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in this viral video?
A soldier pulled over on the side of the road in Fort Hood, Texas, and stepped out into the pouring rain to salute a military veteran's funeral procession as it passed. He held the salute until the last vehicle had gone by.
Who is the soldier in the video?
The article identifies the soldier as Kenneth Varnes, who spoke with KWTX about his reason for stopping to salute the procession.
Why did he salute in the rain?
As quoted in the article, Varnes said, "I don't care if they were 80 years old, they were in World War II, they were in Vietnam, they were in Iraq, I don't care if they were 20. It's brotherhood." He wanted the family to know that he and others were thankful for the veteran's sacrifice.
Where can I watch the video?
The video is embedded in the article above, and the story notes that a photo of Kenneth saluting went viral after it was snapped.

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