Christian Jacobs, a 14-year-old Gold Star son, has always dreamed of becoming a Marine, inspired by the legacy of his late father, Sgt. Christopher Jacobs, who died in a 2011 training accident in California. The dream was further fueled by a memorable encounter with President Donald Trump at Arlington National Cemetery during the 2017 Memorial Day ceremony, where Christian, then just six years old, had the opportunity to meet the former president and express his admiration. Now, as he approaches his teenage years, Christian continues to honor his father’s memory by visiting Arlington every Memorial Day, a tradition that his family has upheld with great reverence. His mother, Brittany, has accompanied him on these visits, and they have maintained a consistent habit of visiting the cemetery to pay tribute to their late father.
The meeting with Trump in 2017 had a profound impact on Christian, and he recently reflected on the significance of that moment, acknowledging its growing importance in his life as he matures. He expressed his admiration for the former president’s leadership and the respect he commands, saying,