Memorial Day honors the brave men and women who died while serving their country.

Christiana Sweetwood and her husband, Paul Woerner, lost their son last summer off the coast of San Clemente Island.  


What You Need To Know

  • Christiana Sweetwood and her husband, Paul Woerner, lost their son in a training incident last summer off the coast of San Clemente Island

  • This is their first Memorial Day without their son, who was 18 when he died

  • They are not sure how they will spend the holiday this year

  • Woerner wants people to remember how difficult Memorial Day can be for military families

Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood was one of nine servicemen who were killed in an AAV training incident. He was 18.

Sweetwood and Woerner say they are not sure how they will spend Memorial Day this year.

"We didn't make any plans because we just don't know what it's going to be like. A lot of emotion," he told "Inside the Issues."

Shortly after appearing on the program in April 2021, the Marine Corps announced it suspended the two-star general who led the 1st Marine Division when the AAV sank. That does not offer much solace to Sweetwood and Woerner.

"I don't know that I'll ever have real comfort. My son is never walking through my door again. There's no comfort in that," Sweetwood said. 

Woerner wants to remind the public that Memorial Day is very difficult for military families.

"We're not going to have some party. It's a day of mourning for a lot of people in this country. Take that in mind," he said.

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