Bryan Martin gives daughter Brenna a graduation gift 13 years in the making. Photo courtesy of Bryan Martin

Bryan Martin is one very devoted dad, taking 13 years to compile a graduation gift that made his daughter Brenna feel like one in a million.

Diligently Bryan Martin sought out each of Brenna’ teachers, coaches and principals every year for 13 years, from kindergarten until her senior year in high school. He asked them to write an encouraging message to his daughter on the pages of the Dr. Seuss book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

When Brenna’s graduation from North Johnston High School finally arrived on June 8, Brenna Martin received her special gift. At first glance she was confused by her dad’s odd choice of a gift. He had to encourage her to open it and take a closer look. As she read the messages, the book had the intended impact. Brenna’s eyes were soon tearing up as she read the messages and comments from every teacher or coach she had known she was 5 years old.

When her dad told her he a gift for her graduation, she expected a corny card. Instead what she got was a labor of love that will be a lasting gift of sentimental value for years to come. Brenna was so moved by her father’s efforts and the kind and encouraging words scrawled across the pages that she tweeted about it on Twitter and shared some of the messages on her Reddit and Imgur.com pages.

As a result, her Imgur.com account has had over 10.8 views and it became one of the top stories on Reddit. Brenna is declining offers to be interviewed about her father’s special gift. She prefers to treasure it privately.

Jack Fletcher at his graduation, May 25 in Spur, Texas. Photo by NBC News

In one of those cases where life gets in the way of our goals, Jack Fletcher had to wait 70 years before he could graduate from high school. Living in Spur, Texas, Fletcher was in his final year of high school when World War II decided it had other plans for him.

Following the war, Fletcher did some world traveling before settling down in Australia. Yet in May 2012, he made the trip back to Spur to graduate with this year’s senior class.

Fletcher was born in the town of Spur but moved with his family to another town. A tragic accident took the lives of his parents in 1941 and the siblings returned to Spur where they were raised by their grandparents.

When WWII broke out, Fletcher and three of his brothers all volunteered. In addition to his brothers, many of Fletcher’s friends signed up to go right away, too. One in particular joked that he would go help win the war in Europe while Fletcher helped win the war in the Pacific and then they would meet up back at home. Sadly, that friend and six others all lost their lives during the war. Had he not been ordered to report to headquarters just then, he would have died with his buddies in their last assault. The fact that he escaped death bothered him for years.

Following his departure from the military in 1946, Fletcher returned to Spur. He was greeted by David, the family dog, who waited at that corner every day from the time Fletcher left, according to his grandmother.

Not one to stay put, Fletcher hit the road working in the agricultural industry. His work took him all over the world, eventually bringing him to Australia where he helped found the Australian Land and Cattle Co. The company purchased 4.3 million acres of rural land that equaled 11 times the size of Dickens County where Fletcher was born. Though the lack of a diploma didn’t really hold him back, Fletcher always wished he had been able to graduate.

The 86 year old joined the graduating class of 2012 on May 25 as an honorary graduate. He peeked inside the sleeve to make sure the certificate was in there, afraid the school might have been pulling his leg he later joked. He felt right at home standing beside the ten other graduates and tossed his cap in the air when it was over just as his younger peers did. Fletcher says Spur will always be a special place to him.

Son Grants Dying Mothers Last Wish

Mary Villetes last wish when she found out that there would be no reprieve from her battle with lung cancer was to see her youngest son Blake Villete graduate from high school. That happened Thursday night at the Community Hospice of Northeast Florida where Mary is a resident now.

Mary has been married to her husband Rory for 20 years and together they have raised 6 children and 7 grandchildren. They have had a marriage and a life full of love and happiness.

Before the graduation on Thursday they renewed their vows in front of their family and friends. The whole family gathered around Mary and Rory as they said their vows again. The love in both of their eyes made it worth it to be there.

After the ceremony all of the seniors from Parsons Christian Academy stepped forward to have their graduation. The joy in his mother’s eyes as they handed Blake his diploma made the whole thing worthwhile.

“She deserved it more than me because she’s the one that made it happen.” Blake said.

The family will long remember these last moments they have with their mother and be thankful to the seniors and family members who made it all possible.

“It’s heart wrenching knowing that she is at the end of her journey and we have to go on without her, but to know that she knew and I knew that the love was deep enough to last,” Rory Villette said.

That one quote from Rory Villete sums it all up. Mary Villete got her last wish.