Three weeks later, the veteran died peacefully with his wife sitting beside him.
And the silver badge became one of the most precious objects in the widow's home.
The widow had never planned to give the badge away.
But earlier that month, the Millhaven Veterans Heritage Center contacted her about an exhibit honoring local veterans and their families.
The center was preparing to open a small permanent display inside the renovated county library.
It would contain photographs, letters, and personal objects associated with residents who served in the armed forces.
The project had taken nearly four years to organize.
Volunteers raised money.
Local businesses donated construction materials.
And retired teachers helped interview families who wanted their relatives' stories preserved.
The widow's husband had been an important figure in the community.
After leaving military service, he worked as a mechanic, volunteered at a food pantry, and spent years helping other veterans complete paperwork and find practical assistance.
He never advertised what he did.
He simply showed up.
When a neighbor's car broke down, he repaired it if he could.
When a former service member struggled to get to a medical appointment, he offered a ride.
And when a young person needed help finding work, he sometimes spent an entire afternoon making telephone calls.
The heritage center wanted to honor that part of his life.
They asked whether the family would consider lending his badge for the opening exhibition.
The widow hesitated.
The object meant so much to her.
But she also remembered what her husband said about the men who never came home.
And she thought perhaps displaying it would help younger people understand that military service was more than uniforms, ceremonies, and medals.
It involved human beings.
Families.
Sacrifice.
And the responsibility to care for one another afterward.
So she agreed to lend the badge for the opening weekend.
Not permanently.
She wanted it returned afterward.
The museum coordinator promised to handle it carefully and arranged for the widow to bring it to the library for a protective display fitting.
The appointment was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
The same afternoon her son planned to arrive unexpectedly and escort her to a private family dinner.
Neither of them knew that the badge would be broken before the day ended.
The widow had been nervous about carrying the badge out of the house.