FORT CAMPBELL, KY (WSMV) -
Grieving the loss of a loved one who signed up to fight for the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan is an emotion taking place all across America.
Today at Fort Campbell, a helicopter, a parachute and some very brave moms, wives and brothers took to the skies to honor fathers and husbands who died serving their country.
Parachutes opened with men and women floating back to earth.
Knoxville's Stephanie Dostie couldn't take her eyes off that sight.
However, it's a common sight for the 101st Airborne. It's what they do.
On Tuesday, it's what Dostie did. She jumped at a chance to honor her husband, a Screaming Eagle and sergeant first class killed in Afghanistan.
Why did she do it?
"Because it's something he loved," said Dostie. "I want to experience what he experienced. It's a way for me to give back to him."
The emotions of the day run the gamut. For the jumpers, the moment is pure joy. But it's the sense of sadness that brought them all here.
The program is a unique way for them to show families that they are not forgotten.
That grieving sometimes requires a leap of faith, and a Chinook was here to make it happen.
"Today your leap of faith might be being pushed out of a plane, suiting up and taking that leap," said Debbie Wolfe with Support Our Troops America. "Tomorrow your leap of faith is getting out of bed, dealing with the paperwork. It's dealing with the belongings that came back."
Peggy Thomson never dreamed of parachuting, never wanted to. Her son Kieran died serving his country.
But Thomson was ready to jump at the chance that came along.
"I said yes for my son," said Thomson. "I felt my son Kieran was giving me an opportunity, an unprecedented opportunity I wouldn't have had otherwise. I felt he would enjoy that. He would have said 'Yeah Mom! Go for it!'"
The program was delivered by Support Our Troops America. They travel to bases across the country.
Debbie Wolfe, who makes it all happen, is a Gold Star Mother who also lost her son while he was serving his country.
Copyright 2012 WSMV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
