The golden child may be the oldest one unless it's the youngest. It may be the toughest one unless it's the most sensitive. It's not even necessary that Mom and Dad have the same favorite - and typically they don't.
At a family's most difficult time I want to make sure at a minimum that they have the very basic of comforts: the ability to grieve their loss privately and the knowledge that their country is grateful for their loved one's sacrifice and service.
