Embracing Resilience: Healing and Unity in the Face of Tragedy

When Army officer Rich Fierro deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, he thought he was fighting to keep war and terror away from his family on the home front. Afterward, like many combat veterans, he struggled to readjust to civilian life. Gradually, with the help of his wife and daughter, and his therapist, he managed to claw his way to a healthier place. The Fierro family started a business in Colorado Springs — a brewery that honored their Mexican heritage and strove to be welcoming to all kinds of people, including members of the LGBTQ community. It seemed as if Rich and his family had come through America’s war on terror intact and won their peace at home. Until, one night, a new kind of enemy walked into their lives and started shooting.

The story is part of our Deep Reads series, which showcases narrative journalism at The Washington Post. It was written by Dan Zak and read by a narrator from our partners at Noa, newsoveraudio.com, an app offering curated audio articles.