In today’s society, and the use of social media, it’s easy to become complain about things we think are wrong or that we don’t like. From small things like bad service at a restaurant to more global issues like social injustice, we tend to digest the information and then blurt out a FaceBook post or Tweet about our thoughts, but typically, that’s the end of our actions. But for one boy in California, instead of just complaining about something he thought was wrong, he took action.

Preston Sharp of Redding, CA was visiting his grandfather’s grave when he noticed something odd with the cemetery. His grandfather, a World War II veteran, had an American flag at his headstone but when Preston looked around at other veteran headstones, he noticed that not all of them had received a flag. Even hours after he and his family left for home, Preston was still complaining about those veterans not having a flag. His mom, April, told him that should either do something about it or just let it go. Preston decided to take action.

Preston took on odd jobs and solicited funds to purchase flags and flowers for all the veterans at the cemetery and once he had his supplies, he spent the day placing them at each headstone, thanking the service member by name for their service. And once he was done with the cemetery his grandfather was laid to rest, he went to another cemetery. And then another.

To date, Preston has placed flags and flowers at over 23,000 veteran headstones over the course of two years.

He goes about doing this in all weather conditions, rain or shine, because as Preston says, “‘They were out there in the rain doing their job, protecting us,’ Preston said. He says coming out in the rain — or 100-degree heat — is the least he can do. (California boy, Hartman).” And Preston has even inspired the locals to come out to his flag weekends, including veterans, to help him honor those who gave their all.

For more on this story by Steve Hartman of CBS Evening News, click here.