For the third year in a row, the extended family gathered for their traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Cousins, aunts, and uncles always looked forward to, and treasured, this special day. And as it has been for the past two Thanksgivings ,one chair sat empty. The plate was set, silverware all nicely polished for the special day, standing ready for the guest who would not be attending.

And as it has been the past two years, conversation was a bit subdued, and understandably so, for the son who always occupied that particular place at the table, was several thousand miles away, as he had be...