His parents knew it was a matter of time before they lost him. As a Ranger with multiple deplyments to Iraq and Afghanistan, they knew he had seen and done too much. Desperate to help their son, they drove him 19 hours to meet his team in Newark, NJ. They knew, if dropped at the airport, he would not go himself.

Steven arrived at Newark very nervous and disconnected. After a few hours with his brothers, he began to connect with his team. It was not until completing a tour of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem that Steven was ready to speak. He then declared, “I just learned that I am a soldier, not a murderer.” At that point, Steven told his story for the first time. He had done the right thing and saved his battle buddy from an insurgent. He later found at that the insurgent was 10-years old.

Steven then planted a tree in the JNF National Forest in memory of that child. The night after the tree planting, Steven slept for the first time. During the next day’s visit to Bethlehem, he was able to pray. Steven had found forgiveness and was able to forgive himself.

Steven currently works at as a manager at a major retailer. He has found purpose and, thanks to your generosity, made the decision to live.