Winter 2009 USAA Magazine - USAA.com

By leaning on each other, military widowsTaryn Davis and Nicole Hart found the strength to builda new life — for themselves and others like them.By Shari Biediger » Photography by Jeffery SalterNicole misses David’s smile. Taryn missesMichael’s accepting ways. In the midst oflosing the men they loved most, early intheir marriages, these military widowsgrieve for those things and so much more.Yet, two years later, Nicole Hart laughs again,and Taryn Davis accepts her loss and looks to thefuture. “All those things I miss about him are my‘teachers’ now,” says Taryn. “The things he lived forand did — those are getting me through my days.”Taryn, 23, established the nonprofit AmericanWidow Project in 2007 when she reached out toother young war widows to film a documentaryabout what she calls their tragedy and their triumph.Nicole joined her, and today the two women run theAmericanWidowProject.org Web site and scheduleevents around the country to connect with othermilitary widows.Nicole, who turned 24 in April, says the eventsare about experiencing life again. “Once I got involvedwith the project, it shocked me that I could domore than just exist,” she says. “I could actually liveand enjoy life.”Still, it pains them both to think about othermilitary spouses who have lost their soul mates andmay be feeling isolated and alone, as they once did.“The sad reality for me is I don’t get to hear myhusband say every day he loves me,” says Taryn. “ButI get to feel his love by working with widows, meetingpeople and seeing that they still honor his sacrifice.” ntoTragedyTriumph« american widow project »usaa.comwinter 2009 usaa magazine21