A worker at a national park in Georgia was moved to discover a fawn curled up by the headstone of an unknown soldier in the park’s cemetery. A photo of the baby deer shared on social media had many netizens respond with reverence.
The sweet photo depicts the tiny fawn curled up in a ball in front of a headstone marked “Unknown U.S. Soldier.” The grave is also decorated with a small American flag.
“Unknown except to God,” wrote one netizen. “And God sent a little angel to show His love for our fallen soldier.”
“With what is going on in the cities of America today, this is peace,” wrote another, “wonderful peace.”
“It’s funny how nature somehow clings to the quieter forms of humanity,” one netizen reflected. “I see here a reminder to be not of one’s self, but one among all.”
According to the post, authorities confirmed that they saw the doe return for her young one later in the day.
The active site still receives more than 150 burials a year and hosts a memorial to American prisoners of war, plus the National Prisoner of War Museum, on its grounds.
“Finding a young animal alone does not mean it’s been abandoned or needs to be rescued,” the agency said. “Adults are often nearby and visit their young only occasionally to avoid detection from predators.”
“Young wildlife removed from the wild are also denied important natural learning experiences which help them survive on their own,” they continued. “Even if these animals are released back into the wild, their chances of survival are reduced.”
In most cases, the agency advised, the very best thing to do if you come across a young wild animal without its mother is to leave it alone.
A few months prior to the fawn’s appearance at Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia, a pigeon made headlines for a similarly poignant tribute to unknown soldiers at the Australian War Memorial in Campbell, Australia.
The staff allowed the nest to remain in place, and several weeks later, a baby pigeon hatched.
