StoryCorps

Cathy Sprigg (right) with her son, Army Spc. Robert Joseph Allen, at Tampa International Airport in 2010. Allen was headed back to Iraq after being on leave for the birth of his son. Courtesy of Cathy Sprigg hide caption

In a StoryCorps conversation in 2016, Etaine Raphael (left) and Adele Levine reflected on their time as civilian physical therapists working with soldiers who had been severely injured while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. John White/StoryCorps hide caption

Ginnie and Matt Peters on vacation in February 2011, a few months before he died by suicide. Courtesy of Ginnie Peters hide caption

Max Knauer and his mother, Kittie Weston-Knauer, at a StoryCorps conversation recorded in April. Grace Pauley/StoryCorps hide caption

In a StoryCorps conversation recorded in February, Patrick and Tracia Kraemer recall falling in love at a nudist park. Kelly Moffitt/StoryCorps hide caption

In a 2009 StoryCorps interview, Charisse Spencer (right) shares with her son Myles Spencer-Watson her memories of growing up in Virginia during the 1960s civil rights movement. Lilly Sullivan/StoryCorps hide caption

Ralph Gagliardo was incarcerated for much of his daughter Abby's childhood. At StoryCorps, they talk about their relationship while he was in prison and after he returned home. Daniel Sitts/StoryCorps hide caption

Dennis Simmonds, 57, and his wife Roxanne, 54, during a visit to StoryCorps. Kevin Oliver for StoryCorps hide caption

Davis, center, during his deployment to Afghanistan, where he served for nearly a year and a half as a human intelligence collector. Courtesy of Roman Coley Davis hide caption

Brothers Russell Wadsworth, 28, (left) and Remmick Wadsworth, 27, both have autism. "To have a brother who shares something that you have, the same kind of emotions ... it just means the world," Russell tells his younger brother during a StoryCorps interview. Kevin Oliver/Courtesy of StoryCorps hide caption

A 1950 photo of Kay (aka "Tubby") Johnston in her King's Dairy Little League team uniform hangs in a special exhibit honoring women in baseball, at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Courtesy of Kay Johnston Massar hide caption

At their StoryCorps interview in Houston, Tanai Benard, 34, and her son, Dezmond Floyd, 10, discuss what's become a grim yet routine topic at schools: active shooter drills. Alletta Cooper/StoryCorps hide caption

Mohammad Ashraf Faridi (left) with his son, Muhammad Faridi, at a StoryCorps interview in New York City. Mia Warren/StoryCorps hide caption

Lora Koenig with her son in the field at Russell Glacier in Greenland in 2011. Courtesy of Marilyn Koenig hide caption