. >> this is karen meredith standing behind her son's grave this morning at arlington national cemetery in virginia. it was 18 years ago today that her son, first lieutenant kenneth ballard, was killed in a tank accident in iraq. >> they're not a number. they're not this, you know, head stone. and it's a real person behind that. kenneth was 26 years old. he was my only child. >> reporter: first lieutenant ballard enlisted in the army three months after graduating from mountain view high school. he was the fourth generation of army officer in his family. >> he really loved being in the military. >> reporter: he started drawing tanks on his homework at age 4 and was known to wear metallica t-shirts under his uniform. ♪ >> he needs to be remembered because he did put down his life for this country. and he loved being in the military. he loved serving. he loved his guys, they loved him, and it's important that we know who is fighting for their freedom, for our freedom. >> reporter: this memorial day, karen meredith wants people to think differently about this monday every year from now on

thousands of miles away, karen meredith stood behind her son's grave at arlington national cemetery in virginia. her son was killed in a tank accident 18 years ago today. >> they're not a number. they're not this, you know, headstone. and it's a real person behind that. kenneth was 26 years old. he was my only child. >> first lieutenant ballard enlisted in the army three months after graduating from high school. tj was the son of a police officer who is now retired. s september 25, 201808 is seared her memory. >> we were about two hours away. the longest two hours. >> if you're wondering what can i do to support them, these families have this to think about. >> that we must go on living. we want to talk about our loved one. please listen. we want to hear stories or memories that you share. please share them. we need to cry sometimes. please be there for us. say their names, share their stories, and always honor their memories. >> sarah donchey. >> we have to make a pledge to those families. we will never leave you behind. >> that message today to the families of the fallen. former defe

. >> this is karen meredith standing behind her son's grave this morning at arlington national cemetery in virginia. it was 18 years ago today that her son, first lieutenant kenneth ballard, was killed in a tank accident in iraq. >> they're not a number. they're not

. >> reporter: mary spoke to a crowd at walnut creek, thousands of miles away karen meredith stood behind her son's grave in virginia, her son first lieutenant ken eighth ballard was killed in a tank accident in iraq 18 years ago. >> they're not a number. they're not this headstone. it's a real person behind that. kenneth was 26 years old. he was my only child. >> reporter: first lieutenant ballard enlisted in the army just three months after graduating from mountain view high school. army corporal t.j. gonzalez was the son of a los gatos police officer who is now retired. december 28th, 22008 is seared into her memory when her father called to tell her t.j. had been killed in iraq. >> i can still hear his voice in my head. he sounded like a little kid as he was just crying and i remember driving home and we were about two hours away and the longest two hours. >> reporter: if you're wondering what can i do to support them? these families have this for you to think about. >> but we must go on living. we want to talk about our loved one. please listen. we want to hear stories or memories th

. >> gold star mom karen meredith stood at her son's grave in virginia. he was killed in a tank accident in iraq 18 years ago. he enlisted in the army three months after graduating from mountain view high school. >> you were seeing a portion of the message of the families of the fallen from defense secretary leon panetta. he delivered the keynote address at a memorial day ceremony yesterday in san jose. at arlington national cemetery, president biden spoke of his own loss after he and the first lady laid a wreath of the tomb of the unknown soldier. it was seven years yesterday that the president's son beau died of a brain tumor. >> i see him not as he was the last time i held his hand, but the day i pinned his bars on him as a second lieutenant. >> and giants manager gabe capler temporarily paused his national anthem protest to salute the flag in philadelphia. last week, he said he would sit out of the anthem indefinitely as a call to action on gun violence in the wake of the texas school shooting. >>> it is now 5:09. a san jose family making it their mis