You know those moments when you think, “Teens these days!” Well, prepare to have your faith in youth spectacularly restored. Meet Aubrey Headdon, the Rochelle Township High School student who turned her prom dress into a heartwarming tribute.
Aubrey wasn’t looking for just any dress; she was on a mission. She chose a dress that honors the 25 fallen Marines from her Illinois community who died between 2010 and 2011. Imagine a beautiful and patriotic blue halter neck dress with red and white ribbons that flow like the American flag. It’s not just a dress; it’s a moving tribute that brought many to tears on her big night.
Now, Aubrey isn’t just any teen. She carried the memory of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, more fondly known as the ‘Darkhorse Battalion,’ close to her heart at her prom. This dress isn’t just about fashion; it’s a heartfelt homage to fallen soldiers, reminding everyone of their sacrifice.
“I wanted to wear this tribute dress to my senior prom so the memories of the guys who fell in Afghanistan for our right to live and do what we do every day is carried on,” she shared with Yahoo Lifestyle after her dress photos went viral.
Inspired by Alec Catherwood’s story – a local hero from the Battalion based in Camp Pendleton, California, Aubrey just knew she had to do something that would etch their memories into our hearts forever. Alec’s story, shared by his mother, hit home for Aubrey. She decided there and then she wanted to craft a meaningful tribute.
Aubrey sewed the red and white ribbons onto a blue dress, creating an intricate pattern that mirrors the American flag. This dress wasn’t just about aesthetic appeal; it was about honoring the Marines in a deeply personal way, right down to the halter neckline that matched their uniforms.
Her tribute didn’t stop there. Aubrey went all out, creating a poster to further honor the fallen Marines and educate people on their valiant lives.
“Their lives and their memories need to carry on so they don’t fade into nothing,” Aubrey said.
Consider this: the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, known simply as 3/5 or Darkhorse, faced the grim fate of bearing the highest casualty rates of any Marine unit in the past decade. Their sacrifice is almost immeasurable.
Among the names are:
At this point, it’s hard not to respect Aubrey, isn’t it? This isn’t your run-of-the-mill prom dress story. This is sheer courage and heartfelt gratitude stitched into fabric.
As Aubrey prepares to major in fashion design next year, she’s committed to carrying the spirit of her prom dress into her future work. She dreams of starting her own clothing line and designing more special occasion dresses that echo meaningful tributes.
“I definitely want to pursue a career in fashion. I would love to design more special occasion dresses like this one,” she said.
One teen, one dress, a flood of emotions – Aubrey Headdon, we salute you.
