RIO BRAVO, Texas — Elizabeth Holguin still has old Mother’s Day cards from her son Lance Cpl. David Espinoza. The Twenty-year-old was deployed for the first time, and was one of 13 U.S. service members who died during an attack at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, while helping evacuation efforts.

Holguin's home in Rio Bravo, Texas, is full of items that remind her of her son, including a picture of her two sons and her husband, Victor Dominguez, stuck on the refrigerator.

“This is when he was three years old. He came into his step dad's life, but never called him step dad, always dad," she said. “Even when he would come [home], I would want to make him all his food. Homemade tortillas, and this and that and he was like, ‘Mom, I can’t. I’m chubby.’ And he would go run the streets of Rio Bravo," she said.

At the fence surrounding the front yard, people from all over have stopped and left mementos, honoring the fallen Marine.

“When he would have the opportunity to come home, he would go into my arms and I would just hug him and touch him. You know, he was my baby," she said.

Holguin saw the developments on the news, and was hoping, praying that her son was alright.

“[At] 1:30 a.m., my phone rings. I knew. I knew, I answered, and it is," said Holguin.

Holguin has every right to be angry, but instead, she chose a different path. She’s happy for the others who made it out, and the families that get to welcome them home.

“I am glad they made it, and there were no more fallen soldiers. It hurts my heart that I don’t have mine here, but I’m happy for them," she said.

Her strength is amazing, and her resilience is fueled by strangers coming with candles and gifts to share her grief.

"This whole street was filled with people. Just the love they had for David was amazing," Holguin says, referencing a candlelight vigil held outside their home after the attack.

Visits from strangers also remind Holguin she isn’t alone. During the interview with Spectrum news 1 a man drove up to the house. Holguin opened the gate and they embraced. They exchanged a few words, then the gentleman shook her hand and returned to his vehicle.  

It's moments like this that help her see the good in others, and gives her faith that her son’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain.

“This is how I know my son won’t be forgotten," she said.