Fawn curls up next to unknown soldier’s headstone in national cemetery, photo shows

An unexpected and very cute guest was found curled up next to a headstone of an unknown soldier, photos show.

A park maintenance supervisor found a fawn “giving special honor” to an unknown soldier resting in Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia, the historic site posted on Facebook.

“Today Park Maintenance Supervisor James Taylor spotted this young guest cozying up and giving special honor to an unknown soldier resting in Andersonville National Cemetery,” the site said.

Many people thought the photo was beautiful and comforting in a time of chaos around the country.

“It’s funny how nature somehow clings to the quieter forms of humanity,” one Facebook user said. “I see here, a reminder to be not of one’s self, but one among all.”

The doe came back for the fawn later in the day, the site said.

Andersonville National Cemetery has nearly 20,000 interments, according to the cemetery’s website. It is one of 14 National Cemeteries the National Park Service administers.

Andersonville National Historic Site is also the only park in the National Park System to act as a memorial to all American prisoners of war, according to the site.

“Andersonville National Cemetery was established to provide a permanent place of honor for those who died in military service to our country,” the site said. “The initial interments, beginning in February 1864, were trench burials of the prisoners who died in the nearby military prison.”

This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Fawn curls up next to unknown soldier’s headstone in national cemetery, photo shows."