The president ordered flags to fly at half-staff to honor coronavirus victims.
across the country, much of the Pier family – sons, daughters, and even a few grandkids – will gather in the front yard of Vikki and Mark Pier's home in North Carolina. Each will take a red balloon, fill it with helium, and write a message on the outside with a marker.
Some will say"we love you," others"we miss you." "But mainly, 'I can't wait to see you again,'" Vikki Pier said she'll write on hers. Then, Noah Pier's family will let the balloons go and watch them float away. Lance Cpl. Noah Pier was killed in action in Afghanistan on Feb. 16, 2010. It was the 25-year-old Marine's second deployment. Monday marks the 10th Memorial Day that his parents, Vikki and Mark Pier, have celebrated and honored their eldest son, and grieved his loss. Some years, they make it to Arlington National Cemetery, to sit with their son, but this year they decided to stay home. Vikki and Mark Pier try to visit Arlington National Cemetery as often as they can. Due to the coronavirus, they won't be able to visit this year on Memorial Day. Vikki and Mark Pier try to visit Arlington National Cemetery as often as they can. Due to the coronavirus, they won't be able to visit this year on Memorial Day."There's no way we would not celebrate it -- we would not honor him -- even with this COVID," Vikki Pier told ABC News. While the whole family cannot gather as they have in previous years, they will all be taking time to remember. Noah, she said, was a tall, loud young man, known for drinking coffee and learning to cook so he could always eat well -- pumpkin pie, cheese cake and lasagna were some of his favorites. He always rooted for the underdog, loved music and sang with all his heart.He was, they said, a proud Marine. Lance Corporal Noah Pier was killed in action on February 16, 2010 in Afghanistan. He left behind two parents and nine siblings and received a purple heart for his service. Lance Corporal Noah Pier was killed in action on February 16, 2010 in Afghanistan. He left behind two parents and nine siblings and received a purple heart for his service."He did believe in the fight for freedom," Vikki Pier said of her son, who was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart."And he believed that it was vital to keep those that would harm us off our soil. So even though he went to Afghanistan, he believed he was protecting us here at home." For many, Memorial Day means a time for barbecues with family and friends, the end of a school year and the unofficial beginning of summer. According to some polls, only about half of Americans know the holiday's true meaning. Many mistakenly believe it commemorates all veterans.But Memorial Day, of course, honors the men and women who sacrificed their lives. More than 645,000 Americans have been killed in conflicts since WWI -- a sacrifice that"cost a lot of families everything," as Vikki Pier put it.Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis. "While we may not be able to gather together in the manner in which we are accustomed, we will still ensure those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of our country are appropriately honored and remembered on Memorial Day," Jeff Reinbold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, said in a statement. Parades across the nation have been canceled, wreath-laying ceremonies at the war memorials on the National Mall will be streamed virtually and the National Memorial Day Concert will be live-streamed. Arlington National Cemetery, where Vikki Pier says her"heart is," will be closed to the public but remains open for families with passes. All 142 VA national cemeteries will be open for visitation throughout the weekend, but there will be no public events and no traditional placement and retrieval of gravesite flags.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Strategist’s Memorial Day Sales Roundup: The Best Deals We’ve Found So FarIt's all too easy to be overwhelmed by the slew of sales at the moment, so the strategist narrowed down the most worthwhile deals from the best sales
Read more »
Memorial Day brings heat and warnings on outings amid coronavirus in Southern CaliforniaMany Southern California parks, beaches and trails will be open over Memorial Day weekend, but social distancing is being urged amid the coronavirus.
Read more »
George Clooney, Gwyneth Paltrow & More Stars Honor Military Heroes in National Memorial Day ConcertThe concert will air on the American Forces Network and will be live-streamed on PBS, YouTube and Facebook
Read more »
10 impactful military books for Memorial Day: 'Unbroken,' 'American Sniper,' 'Band of Brothers'Some titles are newer and some have become classics, but all are perfect for readers seeking to learn more about servicemen and women — past and present.
Read more »
'Memorial Day is every day for me'Coronavirus — and the experience of the fear, grief and isolation that accompany it — may help to forge a closer and more healthy relationship between the American people and their military, johnskirby writes for CNNOpinion
Read more »