Superman
Welcome Home, Soldier
by Andrew Troy Keller
Clark Kent has a surprise encounter on Memorial Day as he visits Arlington Cemetery and meets the Unknown Soldier!
***
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the Arlington National Cemetery. The air was thick with the scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers, a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere that enveloped the hallowed grounds. Among the rows of white headstones, one grave stood out, marked by an inscription that read:
Here Rests in
Honored Glory
An American
Soldier
Known But to God
It was a place of reverence, a reminder of sacrifices made, and on this particular day, two reporters from the Daily Planet were on a mission to capture the essence of Memorial Day for their upcoming weekend tabloid. Clark Kent, tall and unassuming, stood beside his younger colleague, Jimmy Olsen, who was adjusting his camera with a bright smile.
“This is going to be a good day for the veterans, don’t you agree, Clark?” Jimmy said, his enthusiasm infectious as he snapped a few preliminary shots of the grave.
Clark, however, remained silent, his brow furrowed in thought. The weight of the day pressed down on him, and he felt a familiar pang of nostalgia mixed with sorrow. “Clark?” Jimmy’s voice broke through his reverie. “Are you okay?” He tapped Clark gently on the shoulder, concern etched on his face.
“Oh, sorry about that, Jimmy,” Clark replied, startled. He turned to face his friend, forcing a smile. “It’s just that, for some strange reason, every Memorial Day for the past few years, I’ve come here expecting someone to walk up and hand me a letter.”
“A letter?” Jimmy echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion. “From who?”
Clark hesitated, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Would you believe me if I said the Unknown Soldier?”
Jimmy burst into laughter, the sound brightening the somber atmosphere. “I wouldn’t sweat it, Clark. Besides, if you do get a letter from a soldier, then he’s just doing his job — fighting for the cause of life.”
Just as Clark was about to respond, a voice called out from behind him. “Clark, wait up!” As he turned, Clark was surprised to see none other than Jimmy Olsen running toward him. “Jimmy?” he asked, confusion washing over him. “But if that’s Jimmy running toward us, then who–?”
Before he could finish his thought, he turned back to the man he had thought was Jimmy Olsen, only to discover that he had already vanished. Who was that? he pondered, astonished that even he had been fooled. Could he have been my “old friend” in one of his disguises?
“Clark?” Jimmy’s voice was laced with concern as he finally reached his side. “Are you okay? You look like you’re a million miles away, pal.”
“Yes, Jimmy. I’m all right,” Clark replied with a chuckle as relief flooded through him. “Go ahead and set up your gear. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as Jimmy turned his back, Clark ducked behind a nearby tree, his heart racing. He quickly removed his clothes, tucking them into the secret pouch of his cape. In an instant, he transformed into Superman, the iconic red and blue suit glinting in the sunlight. With a powerful leap, he soared into the sky, scanning the cemetery below with his telescopic vision.
There! He spotted the disguised agent just as he was about to don another layer of clothing. Superman landed softly beside him, a smile breaking across his face. “The Unknown Soldier, I presume?” he asked, his voice warm and welcoming. It had been a couple of years since the Soldier had helped him to avert a war, but even then he never actually met him face to face. (*)
[(*) Editor’s note: See “The Specter of War,” DC Comics Presents #42 (February, 1982).]
The soldier looked up, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “You’ve presumed correctly, Superman,” he replied, his voice steady as he put the finishing touches on his next disguise. “And if it’s all the same to you, I would rather remain KIA.”
Superman chuckled softly, understanding the weight of the soldier’s words. “I understand,” he said, rising a few feet into the air. “Oh, and by the way, welcome home, Soldier — finally.”
The Unknown Soldier paused, a smile creeping onto his face. “Thank you, Superman — and a Happy Memorial Day to you, too.”
As Superman took to the skies once more, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. The Unknown Soldier had always been a figure shrouded in mystery, a guardian of the fallen. Today, he was not just a symbol; he was a man, a brother in arms, finally free to honor those who had come before him.
The End