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Every year, on the last Monday in May, our nation takes a sacred pause to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States. Their sacrifices echo through generations, reminding us that the freedoms we enjoy are not free—they were paid for with lives marked by courage, conviction, and selflessness. 

Our fallen heroes are more than just names on a wall. They’re sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends. Each one carried a story, a life filled with laughter, nicknames, quirks, quiet strength, and everyday moments that meant everything to someone. This day is about honoring not only how they died, but how they lived.

This year, we asked the GiveSendGo community to help us remember. To share stories of their loved ones who gave everything—some on the battlefield, others in unseen battles long after they came home. 

Today, we tell their stories. We speak their names. And we honor their lives by remembering.
 

Lance “Bo” Chavez

“My big brother was always my hero. He always made sure as his little sister I felt proud of myself and protected. He took that a step further when he joined the USMC to give his time to his country. He always took pride in being a Marine and was lucky to be stationed in our home of Hawaii for part of his duties. He spread aloha to all who he met and made sure all around him knew how much he loved them.

We now know that his smile was his way of hiding his pain. His laugh was his way to get through the days. In 2022, we lost my brother to his battle with PTSD. We now make it our mission as a family to spread his story and his aloha to those around us so that his memory lives on.

We have established our nonprofit organization, the L;ve Aloha Foundation, to share his legacy and hope to help other veterans fighting with their mental health and their families. They all made the ultimate sacrifice for us, so we hope to just scrape the surface of returning that with our aloha.

Happy Memorial Day to all our heroes here and in Heaven. HOORAHHH!”
 

SFC Andrew Niles Crabtree, US Army

“Andrew Crabtree was an Army Special Forces Medic assigned to a dive team in 5th Special Forces Group. Only two years after being assigned, he was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma.

Although it was not the fight he signed up for, he fought it with faith and grace. He used his sickness as a platform to share the gospel with people around him. He wanted everything about the time he had left of his life to point to the hope of eternity with Jesus Christ."
 

PFC James Edward Marshall, USMC

“James was a great childhood friend of mine. We hung around and would play basketball and spent time playing pool. James and I would stop by his aunt's house at times to check on her as she was blind. He always checked to see if she needed anything from the store or help doing chores.

James drove an ice cream truck and would stop by our home at least twice a week and give me some ice cream that was left over from work. I remember one night he stopped by and told me that he would not be stopping by anymore as he had been drafted into the Marines.

I never saw James after that night. He was the brother that I always wanted, as my real brothers were much older. In 1968, I was told that James had been killed in action in Vietnam. I have never gotten over his death and still think of him all the time. I will never forget my dear friend James. His death inspired me to enlist into the Marine Corps in 1968 at 17 years old.

I know the true meaning of Semper Fi. I will always remember.”
 

Capt. Robert Calvin Wiley, US Army

“My great-grandfather was KIA in St. Lo, France, 14 Aug 1944, leading his Western PA National Guard unit into post-Normandy. Wounded by small arms and machine gun fire, he stayed in the fight and reorganized his men multiple times for a week until killed by sniper fire.

Distinguished Service Cross. Purple Heart. He had been a high school teacher, football and wrestling coach in Greene County, PA.”
 

SSgt Scott Sather, USAF

"Combat Controller. Killed by friendly fire 8 APR 2003."

This Memorial Day, may we not only remember these precious names but live in a way that honors the freedom they died to protect.

To the families who carry on—thank you.
To the fallen—we remember you.

At GiveSendGo, we talk a lot about sharing hope. But how do we—and you, for that matter—do that? It starts with something very simple: a yes.

That small, faithful word has taken our co-founders, siblings Jacob Wells and Heather Wilson, on an adventure that has radically reshaped their lives—and each of their families' lives—time and time again. Those yeses led to GiveSendGo, and also into the difficult, yet incredible, world of foster care.

 

Heather’s Adventure

Heather's journey into foster care began with a surprise!

“Our youngest was 10 years old, and we found out we were pregnant again,” she recalls. “Suddenly, we were faced with having to start our parenting journey all over again, and this time with a 10-year gap between our children. My husband and I started talking about what it would look like to fill that gap with a foster or adoptive child. We didn’t know what to expect, but we felt God calling us. So, we said yes to God and we started the process of going through our local home study process.”

She laughs as she recalls the chaos of that very first call:

“I got the phone call that said, ‘Congratulations. You’ve been approved as foster parents. We have five siblings we need to emergency remove from their home. Can you take them?’ And again, we said yes! Not to what our plan was, but to what God had for us in this season.”

The children were ages 10, 9, 8, 6, and 5.

When Heather asked God to “fill the gap,” she wasn’t expecting Him to literally fill the gap.

“It was the hardest two years of my life,” she admits. “We were on a journey of learning to love like Jesus. During this time, we had so many people say to us, ‘We could never take in kids like that.’ But that’s often a lie we tell ourselves when we want to avoid stepping into something hard. The only difference between my family and yours is not that we were more qualified or patient, it’s just the fact we decided to say yes.”

 

Jacob’s Adventure

“Since 2017, my wife and I have been fostering children through DCF,” he shares. “We’ve had our ups and our downs and our upside downs.”

They’ve fostered over 30 children, each with a different story and their own set of challenges and blessings.

“It’s been an incredible opportunity to invest in and sow into the lives of so many different children… to show children in the difficult moments that they are loved, that they’re valuable, that they are worth sacrificing for—even if we didn’t know them too well.”

Their home became a place where children felt safe—not a place without boundaries or discipline, but a place where they knew love in the midst of what they’d been through, were going through, and even despite themselves—because they’re children of God. Image bearers.

“Children will want to do the craziest things, dangerous things, and it’s our role as parents to help shepherd and guide children into living fruitful lives that produce life… People are worth something apart from their ideas, apart from their ideologies… Inherently, as a human being, they’re valuable.”

There were moments when no words could fix the pain—like when a child’s biological parents passed away while in their care—but even in those hardest circumstances, Jacob and his wife remained faithful to share a greater hope: the hope of Jesus.

“I don’t know that words can often express all of the realities that we face… but I know that in the end, I’ll never have regretted one moment of pouring my life out for other people like these foster kids.”

 

A Call for You to Say YES Too

Foster care isn’t just for a few brave families—it’s a call to all of us to step in where there’s need. As Heather put it:

“Every day we see people on GiveSendGo seeing a need, stepping in, being the hands and feet. That’s what I encourage you to do this Foster Care Month. All you have to do is say yes.”

And that yes can look like many different things:

• Maybe you’re a foster family needing help with beds, clothes, or emergency supplies. Or maybe you know someone who is. Start a campaign on GiveSendGo.

• Maybe you’re not in a season where you can foster—but you can still make a difference. Say yes by giving to and praying for foster families on GiveSendGo who are also saying yes every single day.

• Another way to share hope? Give to GiveSendGo Charities’ Pro-Life Fund—which gives grants to people and families fundraising for foster care, adoption, and other pro-life needs. 
  
   

Say Yes to Adventure

Say yes to the adventure God is calling you on
Say yes to being the hands and feet.
Say yes to sharing hope.
Say yes to helping others answer God's call to love the least of these.

Because courage isn’t the feeling of strength, bravery, or confidence.

Courage is choosing obedience to God, even in the face of fear and uncertainty.
It’s stepping out in faith, trusting that, because of God’s past faithfulness, He is who He says He is—and that He will provide and be your strength on the adventures He’s calling you to.

As David says in 1 Samuel 17:47, “the battle belongs to the Lord.” 

You never know what might happen when you just say yes.

Imagine this—you start a campaign on GiveSendGo, maybe for a medical need, a mission trip, or a family in crisis. Then, out of nowhere, your phone rings. On the other end? Someone from our Hope Team, calling to do something incredible—pray for you.

This isn’t just a kind gesture. It’s a core part of GiveSendGo’s mission to share the hope of Jesus through crowdfunding. We want to be MORE than just a platform that helps people raise money. We share hope, encouragement, and prayer with those in their time of need.

Who Is the Hope Team?

The Hope Team is a dedicated group of individuals who spend their time calling campaigns on GiveSendGo just to pray with them. No fundraising pitches. No strings attached. Just a genuine prayer and heartfelt conversation with someone who cares.

Fun Facts You Might Not Know About the Hope Team

• They make thousands of calls every year, bringing encouragement and prayer to campaign owners worldwide.
• They’re going global! The Hope Team has begun calling campaigns overseas, and we’re actively working to expand this initiative. Hope knows no borders!
• They don’t just call campaigns. They also call people who leave prayer requests on our Prayer Wall and members our Giver Army, ensuring no request goes unheard.
• They host a Prayer Hotline—also known as our Day of Prayer—on the first Saturday of every month, where anyone can call in to receive prayer.
• They share inspiring stories every month. Want to hear more about the miracles, answered prayers, and hope-filled moments they experience? Subscribe to our Hope Team newsletter to stay connected.

One Call Can Make a Difference

Many people turn to GiveSendGo during some of the hardest seasons of their lives. While money can help meet immediate physical needs, it doesn’t necessarily remedy the loss, pain, or challenges they may be facing. That’s why we share hope and sometimes, a simple phone call can make all the difference.

Here’s a couple examples of these calls:

• “Thank you for reaching out and for the thoughtful prayers and encouragement. It is truly uplifting to know that your team is interceding on our behalf and standing with us in faith.” ~ Anonymous 
• “I lost my child in a car accident 9 years ago…I just wanted to say thank you for the prayer. That was so beautiful. It gives me hope for this world that somebody would call and pray over the phone with me, even on my voicemail. God bless you guys. You guys do something special.” ~ Anonymous [Click HERE to listen to this voicemail]. 

Want to experience this for yourself? Join us on our next Day of Prayer, leave a prayer request on our Prayer Wall, or Start a Campaign. You never know—you might just get a call from the Hope Team!

Feeling inspired? Visit our Prayer Wall to leave a request or pray for someone today!

Has our Hope Team prayed for you? Share your experience in the comments!