Community honors Nicole Amor, Minnesota soldier killed in Kuwait, with memorial stone
On Monday afternoon, the White Bear Lake, Minnesota, community gathered outside VFW Post 1782 for a Memorial Day ceremony that honored U.S. servicemembers who gave the ultimate sacrifice, including Master Sergeant Nicole Amor.
Amor was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, serving in Kuwait, when a drone strike killed her and five others earlier this year.
"There's a lot of soldiers that have laid down their lives for what we get to take advantage of every single day. It's just, it's a little bit more personal now," said Joey Amor, Nicole Amor's husband.
Joey Amor and his two children sat under the shade as members of the VFW placed a memorial brick in her honor. The stone inscription describes Amor as an "adored wife and mother."
Joey Amor said the support from the community has been humbling and overwhelming.
"[The community has] rallied behind our family. They've shown support in a million different ways," he said after the ceremony. "They've been taking as much of the weight for us as they can."
Nicole Amor's mother, Deb Stafslien, also shared gratitude for the way friends and community members have shown up in support over the last few weeks.
"So much outreach, so much love, so much compassion and caring. It's really quite incredible," Stafslien said.
Stafslien and Joey Amor both describe each day as bittersweet, laughing together and remembering Nicole Amor as a "spitfire" who brought so much joy.