Not my dad, but it's dad's hat. He wore it on many trips to the Smokies. He and mom went every year. They joined us many times on vacations in the Smokies. When dad passed I asked mom and my siblings if they had any objections to me taking his hat. He had hat pins on it. I have since added hat pins from the Rockies, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Badlands, Mt Rushmore, and maybe some other stops. It's a $10-15 hat to most. It's me taking dad on more trips to me.
Lots of ways to stay close, remember, feel connected once our heroes pass on. This just happens to be one of mine. I'm sure you'll have something of your dad's you can carry, or a tool to use, hat to wear. . . They don't leave you. They're just waiting on you to join them.