'My heart is in Arlington': What Memorial Day means to one Gold Star family

Vikki and Mark Pier visit the grave of their son, Noah, who was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in July 2011. They used to visit every few months, but they have been unable to make it in recent years. (Erin Stalnaker)

Editor's Note: Former Cpl. Dustin Jones served with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, from 2007 to 2010 with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He served with Lance Cpl. Noah Pier.

For many years, Vikki and Mark Pier would come during Memorial Day weekend to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where they would visit the final resting place of their son, Marine Lance Cpl. Noah Miles Pier, who was killed on Feb. 16, 2010, while fighting in Afghanistan.