I didn’t step up to speak in order to settle a score or reclaim a role he’d overlooked. I spoke about him the way he deserved to be seen: as someone shaped by compassion, hard work, and countless unseen acts of support that had guided him forward. I never mentioned myself, yet every word was a tribute to the quiet care that had carried him to that moment. The crowd leaned forward, expecting drama or accusation, and instead found gratitude.
