The war had begun and it was given the operation name “Desert Storm”. My son Steven was in the marines and already had traveled to the Philippines, Germany and then he was sent to Saudi Arabia where he and several other marines would push through to Kuwait. His responsibility was to defuse land mines placed in the desert floor by the enemy. My husband Richard and I and children all nestled snug in our beds in Mesa, Arizona while all of this was going on. We fervently prayed each night for his and his fellow soldiers safety and protection. I believed in my heart that he would return but it was very difficult to think of him in harms way. He is my eldest son and I spent years preparing him for his future as a leader. Many months passed with no word from him. Steven was stationed there from August to the month of March the following hear. During Christmas I put up a special tree, a small pine with lights which would be called “Steven’s tree”. Since he was not there we were to remember him...
