Local woman goes to national park every 4th of July to remember a lost loved one

KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK (KFSN) -- On Independence Day Kings Canyon National Park shows its true colors. There are no fireworks allowed up there, just a show of nature. A place where people like Beverly Eckley can walk among giants.

"There are a lot of people that don't even know this place exists."

Some of Eckley's earliest memories were made sitting in the shadow of General Grant.

"This is home; this is just like living down in the Valley to me because I spent every summer here."

Eckley's here every Fourth of July to celebrate her late husband, Ormond Eckley's life.

"He was such a buff in Civil War, any kind of history."

On this day nine years ago, Eckley spread his ashes behind the famous tree named after General Ulysses S. Grant-- a man he loved and admired.

"What Grant did is something fantastic; he always had his troops behind him."

Eckley covers up her tears with laughter, remembering the husband she lost and why she comes back every year.

"Just as a reminder, that's all and love."

A love story in a forest-- packed with patriotic people on a busy summer day.

It is stories like Eckley's that make this place such a valuable piece of America's history. If you want to learn more, just know, there are many others with the same idea and the park will be packed throughout the summer.