Edinburgh, Scotland’s grandfather has demonstrated the enduring strength of family bonds in a poignant way. When her granddaughter needed someone to walk her down the aisle, the 101-year-old grandmother stepped up.

This retired paratrooper and general practitioner deserved to be named Grandmother of the Year. Despite his advanced age, William MacLean fulfilled a family member’s wish.

His granddaughter, Sarah Morson of Manchester, England, was being married. The day’s happiness, though, was tinged with melancholy. Unfortunately, her father was not present when she said “yes” to the guy she would spend the rest of her life with.

Morson, like many young girls, imagined her father giving her away on her wedding day. He was not, on the opposite. Her father died of cancer 11 years before she was ready to make a lifelong commitment.

Morson had another exceptional man in her life, her grandfather, whom she wanted to execute the rite of giving her away in 2015.

The grandfather’s poignant wedding day photos with his granddaughter quickly went viral, sparking a lively internet discussion.

Morson and MacLean’s granddaughter recalls her grandfather’s joy upon learning of her engagement. As a result, she fully involved him in the celebration. She then elaborated:

Simply told, I admire him. When we were engaged, he seemed overjoyed, so we assumed he would be as well.

MacLean had been widowed in 2014 and was unwell, yet he still fulfilled his granddaughter’s dream. He would always be there for her, no matter what happened.

The proud grandfather summoned all his strength and marched to Holy Trinity Church in Whitfield, Northumberland. He now served Morson in the same way he had served his country many years earlier.

MacLean proudly wore his military uniform and all of his medals to this momentous occasion. Her grandmother’s presence offered her granddaughter joy and thankfulness. What she stated was as follows:

“I’m just so proud of him.” He had to deal with many hardships in his personal life in addition to the trials he faced as a military hero.

According to the grandson, MacLean counseled her husband and stated unequivocally that she was now his duty within the marriage.

Morson’s grandfather did not live with them, but she visited him whenever she could.
During their time together, he insisted on continual handholding, adding that he found it soothing to know that most others avoided personal touch with the elderly.

MacLean was an exceptionally courageous person who served in the Normandy landings
without displaying any sign of nervousness. Unfortunately for him, being colorblind
made it impossible for him to pursue his ambition of becoming a pilot.

Still, his military career was one of which he could be justifiably proud.