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Do you believe in fate?
When an Oregon woman mailed a letter to Iraq,
she had no idea it would return answers,
answers she's searched hard to find.
Michelle Michael explains.
Dear Captain Emily Stehr, My name is Laurie McBride...
When Laurie McBride wrote this letter [McBride] Did you know them? >>to a soldier in Iraq,
[McBride] Thank you for being there.
it was an unannounced visit into Emily's life.
It was a pretty amazing letter.
[McBride] God bless you. Laurie McBride.
That letter would not only be answered,
[McBride] I gave her my email address. >>And then I emailed her.
it would deliver answers.
[Stehr] We've been emailing ever since.
Like fate, somehow read between the lines.
I just couldn't believe it when I first saw the officer standing there.
Another unexpected delivery, more than a year before she put pen to paper.
I said, "No, this can't be. He's just injured, right?"
"Tell me he's injured and he's going to be okay."
Mother's instinct aside, she just knew.
The whole world just kind of breaks and falls away.
An Iraqi house rigged with explosives killed six American soldiers,
including her son, Zachary McBride.
They had a little Memorial Day parade through town
and they'd sit on the car, waving their flags.
Now on Memorial Day we go to the cemetery.
When she lost her son, she found comfort in sending care packages to soldiers.
Emily was on her list.
Next to her name, a unit name: 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.
Emily did not know Zach, but she knew she wanted to meet Laurie
and she wanted to take her somewhere.
This is the memorial. I've seen pictures of it.
She expected closure,
[McBride] Let's see. Oh, there he is.
but not this.
I'm James Robette. >>Oh, I've heard your name.
One of Zach's friends heard she was here, but he didn't come alone.
This was Zach's bag.
He had stored it at a friend's house, and it got mixed up.
His passport's in here. >>Yeah. He hated that picture. [laughs]
He was a great friend.
Soon another friend showed up.
In that moment, all the arms these soldiers needed
[McBride] Can I give you a hug? >>Yeah.
were for hugging.
You guys take care.
It's never easy to let go,
[McBride] We lost our son, but they lost six brothers.
but it's even harder to carry it with you.
I'm going to hang onto it.
Michelle Michael, [McBride sighs] Vilseck, Germany.
[♪♪]