Get past the baby pictures, engagement announcements and obnoxious selfies — because very recently Facebook saved the day for one desperate American military family. And it’s oh so sweet.

*insert thumbs up logo*

When a United States military veteran passes away, it’s tradition to drape the coffin in Old Glory. A cotton “interment” flag. We’re sure you’ve seen photographs of this countless times — it’s as somber and traditional and as American as anything there is.

Often times, the family of the deceased vet keeps the flag after the funeral services, and displays it as a memorial for their loved one. If you’ve ever seen it in someone’s home you know — it’s extremely moving.

One such family from New York state did just this, for their father, who had served as an Army Air Force corporal during the Second World War. They displayed Michael Cowley’s flag at a campground his daughter, Cathy, helps run. It was a special thing.

Then, one day, it went missing. Out of the blue, it was gone.

This from the Washington Post:

After it disappeared, and her initial calls yielded no good news, Scoppo said, she broke down in tears.

“I walked back to our motor home and I was just sobbing,” Scoppo said. “And my husband asked me what was wrong and I told him my dad’s flag was missing. And we went from there.”

Scoppo said she and her husband posted to Facebook, seeking information about where it might be.

“We didn’t get an answer, other than, a lot of support, hope you get it back, those kinds of things,” she said.

The online postings did finally lead to a tip, though. Residents in the park saw the post, and were talking about it, Scoppo said. Their granddaughter showed them a text from a boy, who had messaged her about stealing an American flag.

To make a long story short, the boy — from Missouri — had stolen the flag and buried it in a campground local to him. At first, the kid gave clues as to the whereabouts of the keepsake which proved as merely a facade, and the search was back to square one. Until a breakthrough: someone set the child straight and put his actions into perspective, i.e. what it means to steal such a hallowed American flag, and he came clean, produced the flag in no time.

“Not only [was] it presented to a veteran, but … it represents our country, and our country is based on honor and truth and freedom,” Scoppo told a reporter. “The freedom to fly the flag wherever we want to. Without fear that something’s going to happen to it.”