Facebook Picture Honoring Fallen Soldier Creates Huge Buzz

I always think it is really neat when I post something to Facebook and I get ten or fifteen people to comment on it or "like" it. I am sure Hannah Hobbs from Borger, Texas used to feel the same way. That is until the picture she took after serving a guest, at the Bennigan's where she works, a beer for his friend who was a fallen comrade went viral on Facebook.

The beer was intended to be a memorial to Navy Lt. J.G. Francis Toner IV. The guest left a note with the beer that read “In memory of Lt. J.G. Francis Toner, USN. Killed in action 27 March 2009, Balkh Province, Afghanistan. ‘Non sibi said patriae’ NOT FORGOTTEN!”

Without wanting to empty the beer, Hobbs finally took a photo of the memorial at the end of the night and posted it to her personal Facebook page so the image could live forever. In her post above the photo she stated, “This guy came in and asked if it was ok if he left this on the bar.. I cried :( I left it there until like 11:30 ... I didn’t want to pour it out but I had to. So I’m posting this pic so it can stay forever!! So can I get some likes people??”

To her surprise, the post went viral, attracting 1,824,800 "likes" and has been shared over 163,000 times on the social networking site. Hobbs has received recognition and praise from past and present military service members, as well as from the public. Hobbs also received an award from Bennigan's called a ABCD (Above and Beyond Call of Duty) Award.

The picture was originally posted in March, but it took some time to get to my computer here in June. Since March Bennigan's has taken advantage of the publicity though. The restaurant has launched a social media effort on its Facebook page entitled the “Wall of Heroes,” to pay tribute to servicemen and women. Guests at any of Bennigan’s restaurants have the option to buy a beer and leave a note for any member in the U.S. military. Pictures of the beer and note can be posted on the company’s Facebook timeline at www.facebook.com/BennigansFanPage or emailed to facebook@bennigansfc.com.