E008 - Cilla McCain - Fighting Alongside Families of this Nations Fallen
She’s a deceivingly genteel southerner with a sharp wit and a will of steel. Cilla McCain has taken it upon herself to fight alongside families of this nation’s fallen when they are faced with loss that does not fit the conventional manner of death. Pictures of widows, children, and parents receiving folded flags at graveside ceremonies abound as military honors are offered. But not every folded flag is followed up with the same respect. For families of soldiers whose deaths are unconventional – at the hands of fellow soldiers through willful or negligent actions - that folded flag is often the last time they are treated with respect. These families are often shunned, ignored, and shut down when they attempt to clarify cloudy circumstances surrounding the death of a loved one. It is an overwhelming battle for anyone to fight, let alone grieving family members unaccustomed to the government’s ways. This is where Cilla McCain steps in. Listen in to this episode to hear about how Cilla has taken on the mission of telling the stories never before told, of the exception to the rule of trust and loyalty in uniform. Hear her tell her story of how she became involved in helping these families navigate the bureaucracy of “Non-hostile” deaths, and how she is working to protect other families from enduring the same pain.