Grief, Hope, and the Holidays

An open conversation about loss, resilience, and the love between a mother and her son

In this episode of Three Second Salute, we sit down withGold Star mother Kristen Giordano Blandin, whose son, U.S. Army Pfc. Joseph Marquez, died during a training exercise at Yakima Training Center in Washington State.  Kristen shares about Joey’s life and his commitment toservice, the difficult road that followed after his death, as well as his legacy. She reflects on personal grief, navigating the military system after a loss, and the ways relationships can continue even after death. It’s an open conversation about loss, resilience, and thelove between a mother and her son.

Episode 2: The Intimacy of Grief: A Funeral Director’s Duty

In this episode, Chaplains Steve Lager and Ben Quintanillatalk with Matt and Danielle, two of AFMAO’s funeral directors, about their roles in supporting families through grief. They discuss the challenges and rewards of helping families navigate loss and how their work intersects withthe experiences of those in mourning. Tune in for an honest and insightful conversation about grief and the unique duty of funeral directors.

Grief, Hope, and the Holidays

On this episode, Gold Star Spouse Laurie Martin shares the story of losing her husband, Anson to cancer in 2010. Laurie shares her story of navigating grief through the holidays and finding hope in the 15 years since Anson died.

Episode 0: Behind the Mission

On Episode Zero, Chaplains Steve Lager and Ben Quintanilla discuss the AFMAO mission and their hearts for equipping caregivers. They also chat about what listeners can look forward to on future episodes of Three Second Salute.