Etiennej Murphy News Today

TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Each stage of a 22-mile walk Thursday through Texarkana was a step toward returning meaning to Memorial Day, Carry the Load participants said.

Think its just going to bring more pain to her. but im finding out when she does that it might be healing her little by little. as long as i know shes healing, th then i know i can heal as well. >> mr. and mrs. murphy, i wish you strength and peace in the years ahead. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> john kelly said to put politics aside. it was president trump who brought up the subject of conversations with gold star families when he talked about former president. and continued to praise puerto ...

Negative about a phone call or letter. i want -- he wants to be -- yes. he wants to be remembered as man, army ranger that loved his country. he did what he wanted to do, accomplished what he wanted to do. thats what i want people to know about specialist etienne j. murphy, its not about a letter or phone call. >> he was doing exactly what he wanted to do with his life. >> yes. he loved it. begged him not to join, not to go to syria. he said mom, i have -- told me he didnt want to go but he did....

Few days when i did speak about him -- i think its because of the responses and support ive receiving from others, its helping me. some days i still feel like i dont want to go on. when im reading letters and outpouring of the support ive received, its touched my heart so much, it gave me a little bit of strength. i want to thank everyone for their support and understanding and compassion during this hard, very difficult time. in our lives. >> mr. murphy, anything else you wanted to say? >> well...

Truthfully theyre far tpart of free society but he attacked them today and continued the divisiveness in free society. another day where the focus wasnt on the families like mr. and mrs. murphy and mr. and mrs. johnson on earlier today and suffering theyre going through because their soldiers are dead. we have to stop this divisiveness and go back to the point of empathy and understanding and humility within our society and within our presidential leadership. >> admiral kirby? >> i couldnt agree...

About, went to the store, gathered up army men. running through the woods with paintball guns, everything. >> meant to be a ranger from the beginning. >> yes. >> yeah. >> yes, we do believe that. >> how did you learn about what happened to your son? >> my daughter-in-law called me, said are you home? no. go home, someone is coming to the house. i had a gut-wrenching feeling that something was wrong with my child. >> as soon as we walked in the door, five minutes after we shut the door, doorbell ...

Been reluctant to bring into this sphere here. but it was very raw, emotional in there. extraordinary. >> jeff zeleny. appreciate you talking to us. general kelly talked about the sacrifice of those who served and families. said in so many words, unless youve worn the uniform you cant understand, the camaraderie of service, the loss family feels when loved one is killed. for them, its not politics, want the focus on fallen son or daughter, loved one not to be forgotten. certainly true for etienn...

>> etienne was a fun-loving young man. >> still call him a boy. >> always going to be my baby boy. he loved skateboarding, a "star wars" fanatic. he liked patriots, football team. and most importantly, he loved his wife and his two children. >> he was dedicated to those two sons. >> yes he was. >> hes a family man. >> and mr. murphy, i know youve talked about him as god-fearing man and all his decisions in his life led him to being an army ranger. can you explain that? >> my son, even when he wa...