For many of us, we've been told from a young age onward that spending time with family and friends during holidays is the right thing to do.
We have all sorts of traditions built around this idea, and it certainly makes Christmastime all the more special.
But since togetherness is what the most wonderful time of the year is all about, it can take a toll on person when a loved one is no longer around to celebrate.
This time of year is the hardest for those who have been bereaved, whether it has only been a few months, a year or 10 years.
The holidays are especially challenging for children who have lost a parent, which is why for decades Snowball Express has made it their mission to help the kids of fallen service members.
Every December, the initiative rounds up thousands of children of the fallen as well as their surviving parent and provide them with an all-expenses paid, guilt-free fun experience.
This year, the Snowball Express picked up nearly 1,700 children and spouses for a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, but some of the children were in for another surprise.
The children flying out from the Nashville airport were honored by travelers who stopped to belt out the national anthem to pay their respects to the families and to the service men and women who died in combat.
The touching moment was captured on video by Facebook user Jen Tringale. She has since uploaded the clip to social media platform, and it's not hard to see why it has gone viral with over 450,000 views.
Tringale explained that as soon as the families "lined up to board the plane the whole airport literally stopped and sang the national anthem with military present in salute."
Check it out:
I witnessed an international airport come to a complete stop today ... At the Nashville airport I walked out into the concourse to this scene @americanairlines was flying a plane full of children who had lost a parent in combat to Disneyworld on an all expenses paid trip and they threw a party for them at the gateâ¤ï¸But when they announced them over the loud speaker and they lined up to board the plane the whole airport literally stopped and sang the national anthem with military present in salute. Most every person standing around, myself included was bawling at the sight of these kids and spouses who have paid so great a price for our country. To see all of this at Christmas time was so humbling. Seeing the general public in an airport stand still to honor these kids was simply beauitful. @bna_airport #nashville #fallenwarriors Gary Sinise Foundation #america #snowballexpress #christmas Garysinise
Posted by Jen Tringale on Saturday, December 8, 2018
"Most every person standing around, myself included was bawling at the sight of these kids and spouses who have paid so great a price for our country," she added. "To see all of this at Christmas time was so humbling."
Some of the parents who were part of the Snowball Express took to the comments to express how the unexpected tribute made them feel.
"My son and I were on this flight! I can't begin to explain how much this means to us," wrote Amber Diaz. Erin Lowell, who boarded the flight for the first time with her daughter, said the moment was "so emotional."
The Snowball Express program is now in its 13th year, and is now part of the Gary Sinese Foundation, a nonprofit started by the CSI: New York actor to help service members and their families.
