Homefront: Stories from Military Families

Today, on Memorial Day, The Takeaway has a special hour devoted to America’s military families and the unique challenges they face and the sacrifices they make. 

Terry Burgess' son, Army Staff Sgt. Bryan Burgess, was killed in Afghanistan on March 29, 2011. Terry shares what helps him with his grief, what Memorial Day means to him as a Gold Star father, and what he wants civilians to know about the holiday. Terry is the co-founder of Gold Star Parent Retreat and wrote the book "When Our Blue Star Turned Gold" with his wife Beth. 

Jamie Howard, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute who specializes in anxiety disorders and trauma resiliency, discusses the stress that deployment and regular moves have on kids in military families.

The Takeaway also looks at the substandard conditions in privatized military housing with Deborah Nelson, freelance investigative reporter for Reuters and journalism professor at University of Maryland.

For many military spouses, it is a challenge to find consistent and meaningful work, and a conversation with military wives Karla Candelaria-Oquendo and Katie Kirsch explores those challenges.

And finally, Gold Star spouse Sherry Jennings-Kevianne, who lost her husband Marine Sgt. Julian Kevianne 21 months ago, reflects on her husband’s legacy and what Memorial Day means to her.