On his way to the middle east. Went straight over to iraq. So february 2004 hes going over there. That must have been hard to went down. His youngest brother and father and i went to spend three days with him before he deployed. He said just dont go. Itll be too hard for you. I tried to take care of him all of his life and then at that point it was out of my hands. He was going to be a man and do what he wanted to do. Thats got to be a source of pride. Absolutely. But a source of fear; right . Lived in fear when he did deploy we lived in fear i didnt want to hear a phone cringe or watch tv. I didnt watch tv or news for the whole time he was deployed. She talked to him twice when he was gone. The last time was march 17th. St. Patricks day he called. That was the last time i not to talk to him. Was he happy . He was. He loved it. He said, mom, you know, things are scary over here many he said i watched a few of my friends being blown away but im not scared and weve been giving kids candy in the market place. He loved doing that and they just think so highly of him and made him so proud that he was there to hopefully help these children have a better life. Proud of him. Very proud of hip. At 19 years old he had such a mentality to give and such a art. And then came that day in april of 2004. I get our of my car and there were there. And i look up and three marines came around the end of the building and i just lost it. I totally knew what they were there to tell me. They just told me hed been killed in iraq in an ambush and killed with nine other ma reens and a navy corpsman. She said goodbye to her 19 yearold son. He did come home. Maybe not the way i wanted him to but i got to have a closure. He came home in one piece. I got to temperature him good bye best i could. In the months that followed, she stood by other families suffering that same loss. Gold star parents and i thought theyre going to need someone who use walking in their assures and lend an ear or a hand. I went to nerve the bay area at that time. And two years after travis died she met this young man, travis son dillon. Ten days before christmas that year we found out that dillon was my grandson. Travis never knew he was a father. His mom told dianne she always thought shed have more time to tell him. All my kids travis was the only one that would tryst my hair and i picked him up and, of course, im balling anyway but he started twisting my hair. Oh my god. Youre my travis. What did he want to know . How brave he was and how giving he was and the huge heart that he had. He just loved life and he wanted to make a difference. There are no words to describe dye diannes loss or pain. Every night i go to bed, every morning i get up. Travis is on my mind 24 7. I talk to him all of the time and how much i love him. How much i miss him. Think about him all of the time. If he would just come and kiss my cheek. Come and kiss my cheek. On memorial day she hopes people take a moment to remember the sacrifice that her son, his family and so many others have made in service to this country. Just take a few minutes out to really realize and remember that memorial day is really all about. These young men and women are trying to secure our safety and i want people to know that freedom isnt free. Its paid at a very high cost by someone and someones family. Travis was buried at the Golden Gate National cemetery. Thats built in 1937 after the voters in San Francisco decided they did not want semitairs built wf their city limbs. Here in the city has been here since the 19th century. Its first known beurl back in 1854. And when we come back a look has been here since the 19th century. It was declared a Historical National landmark back in 1962 and the tens of thousands of gray here represent our regions rich history. Over 35,000 graves here at the National Cemetery. A walk through the rows of the gravestones a the National Cemetery is almost like a walk through a history book. Its a monument to all of the differents of history because it is a probably the holdest armybase on the west coast. In many ways it was the west coast pentagon. Orders were sent there. We have people here from almost every era of a con con conflicts the famous general worked out of here. General mark clark was a commander here. So every era of the u. S. Conflicts from the indiana wars spanish america war. World war ii. Iraq, afghanistan. People are buried here from all of these conflicts. And park rangers say recent conflicts have made people look at both memorial day and the a little differently. Especially since the days of 9 11 and the new engagement over seas in the middle east and other areas like that. Thats become more timely than to people in the bay area and across the country that memorial day is across the country a. New significance and maybe sometimes the question about whether the engagement of the United States in wars overseas and people are honoring people who step forward and do sacrifice and lose their lives for their country. And every year there seems to be a larger turnout here at memorial day. Do you think its understand sng do you think its respect . When brings them here . Its probably a combination of all of those things. Remembrance, respect. When you remember someone whos lost you bring them back into life. You bring them back to your living existence and therefore they do not die. But while memorial day is always marked with a large ceremony, rangers say visitors come every day. Sometimes searching for people they know but often they come simply to learn about the people who have come before. But theres also an electronic grave locate tor at the entrance so it you know the last name, you can look up a relative or somebody like a relative or the famous buffalo soldier whos buried here. When you talk about the soldiers that are here at the National Cemetery in the you cannot forget about the 400 Buffalo Soldiers buried here. This year marks the 150l1 thanniversary of the formation of the Buffalo Soldiers. So youve been studying Buffalo Soldiers literally your entire life. Pretty much. 50 years. 50 years. Tell us about the Buffalo Soldiers. They were African Americans who enlisted in the United States regular army after the civil war. I must tell you black soldiers have fought for this country starting back in the rev leutionz and even during colonial times. They fought in the colonies. But in 1866 they became part of the regular establishment. One in five soldiers in the regular army after 1866 was black. 85 of the battles fought against native americans did not include john wayne riding to the rescue. It included africanamerican soldiers. They got the name buffalo shol jer not because of the wooly hair and the mat of the that buffalo testimony they got it because of the native americans they thought. They were likened to the clan of the buffalo warrior. And my grandfather fear fiercest warriors. My granddaughters generation accepted this. As a title of hoarp. Hes a historian who was inspired by his grandfather to study the history of the Buffalo Soldiers. His grandfather as within army man who signed up in 1887. My grandfathers name was sal when i was 13, 14 thinking i knew everything in the world, i asked my dwrfer one day why he joined this racist countrys army and the things that he told me was something i would never forget. The army gave me the only part of the American Dream that america the nation would let me share in. Many black soldiers of his period and even today they used the military as a vehicle for a way up and a way out. The tombstone here is of william h tomp kins. He had served throughout his career with the 24th infantry. All four black regionments like my grandfather. The tombstone here is another black soldier. John a logan. Sergeant energy if many, many years. There are 400 Buffalo Soldiers buried here. Do you think that americans know that soldier sphwhrsm there are 400 soldiers here. Some were civil war veterans. If you go to the tombstone. One of the things that happened as the west disappeared, we abandoned military fortresses and each time we abandoned a fort we would take the people out of the dwraif and bring them to the nearest cemetery. And so you have 400 soldiers here, pretty much because of that. But 150 years after the formation of the Buffalo Soldiers he says their story just like his grandfathers is one that needs to be told. My grandfather was passing on a legacy of pride that i had nothing to be ashame of the of. When you look add the tombstone are or you watch a movie. It reflects that pride of who they were not just as americans but as men. And so its a story that i think the nation needs to honor. And there are so many stories to be told across the bay area. The per sirks dio is the smallest base but welcome back to bay area people and our special memorial day show. Coming to you from the National Cemetery but want to take you about 40 miles from here to the town of thats home to a small by historic Military Cemetery that has its own story to tell. It is not very big. Nor is it very well known. Many people that i know have never been here. And ive lived here 30 years glu be the Military Cemetery holds its place in history. When i tell people that have never been here that this the oldest Military Cemetery, it impresses people. Never been there. Go there and find a rich history in the stories of the people who have made this their final resting place. This was the headquarters for the pacific army in the 1840s into the 1850s. The army set up an outpost here in the 184s. In 1849 the first soldier was here. For many years it was home to the u. S. Army arsenal. In the is 1 0 that is left. The last person buried a the cemetery was in 158. And it was the wife of a soldier who was stationed here. So in totally there are 211 graves. Many of the names were. The army used to paint names on crosses when they buried people and they were lost to history. There are eight german prisoners of war that passed away and one italian why pliz of war. They were encars rated here during world war ii. Taking care of them kathy 34 years youve been taking care of this cemetery. Why do you do it . I just love it here. You and your husband . My husband was in the service and i just really believe in that. What do you feel when youre working here 8 hours a day and taking care of it . Peace . Man, i hope thats what i bring to the guys here. Watched people discover why is cemetery for the first time. Watch as others spend time trying to say thank you and been there when the loved ones come to remember a piece of their own history. Had a cornell and his wife come visit their baby. He was stationed here when the baby died of crib death and they come to visit him. I have guards from the prison when it was here and come and visit the italian and the germans. He used to play cards with them. They have come to this Small Cemetery to remember their soldiers. They want to pay honor to the german soldiers. These are young can officers. This is a connection for them with world war ii. Memorial days is about remembrance and this year as they have done in years past hundreds lf come to listen to the speeches. And to watch the wreath laying ceremony. At the end of the ceremony when taps is played, thats when it hits me. They go, oh, yeah. Thats why were here. Were here because a lot of people died for our way of life. And here in this meticulously cared for cemetery tucked in the hillside of though small town. Those who know the history and story hope people will remember those who rest hereafter the ceremony is over. I feel a strong sense of the history and an appreciation for how long theres been a lot of these people gave their lives for the country. I feel reverence. Feeling of appreciation. Hundreds will go to benecia and there will be remembrances across the bay area. The honor guard will be a part of many of them. When we come back talk to the Travis Air Force base honor guard. Members of amazing sleep stays with you all day and all night. Sleep number beds with Sleepiq Technology give you the knowledge to adjust for the best sleep ever. Save 500 on the memorial day special Edition Mattress with Sleepiq Technology. Plus 36month financing. Know better sleep. Only at a sleep number store. At every military funny yal who and Community Event like the one on memorial day. To talk to members of that honor guard and to find out what it means to be part of such an important and symbolic detail. [ music ] every step, every movement is practiced countless times. From a flag fold to the bugle of taps. Every detail matters. Be on point and be sharp, chrisen and missionless and yes, only perfection is acceptable. We strive for perfection in every movement that we do. Thats why we practice three hours a day to be perfect. Because this is the last thing that a family gets for thinker loved one, their fallen member. The Travis Air Force base is relentless to doing it right. Providing a memorable and last impression for the next of kin, showing them a sense of pride of what their family was a part of. They are part of the United States military. And at their funeral the hoarp guard pays them and their family a final tribute. The purpose is is, you know, to honor with dignity. I want them to see a ceremony that was provided at the highest respect. 45,000 square miles here, San Francisco, san jose, sacramento area. And even about five hours south. We serve as probably one million vets and retirees. Funny rals and colors honors. And yet as they go through each step and each movement, they are fueled by reasons that are both patriotic and personal. Thats my grandfather. Were doing something special. It is what gets them through the difficult moments. The emotions are always going to be there. Its human nature. How we show them is what we strive not to do during the the honor is not ours. When we show else thats bringing attention toward ourselves that for that day and that home its not about us. Just because you dont see it doesnt mean youre not feeling it. Absolutely. Think about your own family and that hits you at the heart. Do your best for them. Weve had times where airmen have cried during the ceremony and it just happens. It happens but they work through it. And then practice for the next one. Memorial day keeps them busy. But it is a day that they look forward to. Its a bit humbling obviously but its a culmination of everything. You know, its the one day that well, not only do we shine but i mean, all those that came before us shine. That we the whole nation pays respect for it. Wed love to see the flag out every day for every service member, for every fallen member but memorial day i mean, that i guess probably brings us a little bit of joy to no that everyone is remembering. [ taps honor with dignitity. When they watch us i want them to think that they know that this is the service that their loved one deserved. In a final farewell we hope that they understand that it took time to practice and this is this was a fraternity that their member was a part of and something they can be proud of. Pride and gratitude for those who have served. Thats going to do it for us on bay area people and our special memorial day. All of the information from all of our segments on our website and, of course, you can also find us on facebook. For all who have served and all who are serving, we welcome to a special report on heroin in the bay. Heroin has affected every corner in the country, no community is immune. In the bay area, there is a story playing out, tackling the problem and the treatment of saving the lives takes priority. For a closer look at the issue, we met the people on the front line, examining why other cities are looking here to find out what is working. Reporter springtime, San Francisco. So many angles are connected to one goal. Saving lives. From south of market to the pacific. On this day, and invitation into the world of black tar heroin. It is melted and then injected. If you actually get out of the car and listen, you can hear the sad songs and the stories and faces of addiction. These are everyday people, like you and me. Reporter the medical director for the San Francisco fire department, teaming up with the department of health to launch the ms six. One paramedic and one outreach worker, and the mission is to reach the high risk users, the 911 system connection with service. One thing is that people want help. People that have had an acute overdose or 4 to 5 times more likely to have another one that is fatal. Reporter nickless is a young man that says he comes from a good family, and now wakes up every morning. I like to get high, and that is what i chose. Anything that happens to me, jail, freezing cold at night, starving, it is worth it. Narcan is a lifesaver. Reporter narcan reduces and reverses the effect of the opioid overdose. We have had over 2000 overdose is reversed in the city of San Francisco sense 2003. Reporter the nonprofit with that help of the Public Health coordinates the use of narcan in the city. The idea is that you get is much into the high risk of community as possible, and flood it in the hopes that anytime and overdose is witnessed, someone has one. Reporter in the year 2000, 120 people died in San Francisco from heroin overdose. And in 2014 the number dropped to 30. Despite that, the argument out there is whether or not narcan allows the addiction cycle to continue. I disagree. I think that having the fire extinguisher in the kitchen is a good idea, and not more likely to light your dinner on fire. Reporter the doctor says that the heroin use has spiked in neighborhoods all over the city. Weve seen a transition, and as we have tried to clamp down on the opiate prescribing, and we have expanded the pool of those that are on opiates. Reporter they are now advising doctors not to prescribe opiates for chronic pain in most situations. Some of these people that are dependent on the opioids, they end up reverting to the street opiates. The market for the opioids has changed, and there are a lot more opioids on the street and there used to be. Reporter a 200 increase in the rate of Overdose Deaths involving opiates, the Drug Overdose reached a new peak in 2014, 47,055 people, or the equivalent of 125 americans every day. In San Francisco, the landscape looks different as the city fight back against the opioid Overdose Deaths, saving the lives is a priority. When i go to the conference is people want to hear what we are doing here. Reporter doctor Judith Martin says that the city is leading the way. Offer medication and treatment on demand, sameday access. Reporter in saving lives, 62 reported bystander new lots own naloxone reported. 599 reversals and 400 rescues by the paramedics. Reporter the popularity is now becoming a problem. They say that the narcan is getting more expensive, and so the dope project is struggling to meet the demand of the groups that handed out for free. It is 15 per file, and each kit that we distribute has two vials, so that is 30 for one kit. If we give out thousands of year, and i care. Reporter it is frustrating because narcan has a much deeper value. We are empowering those that use the drugs, stigmatized and marginalized in the society, we are giving them a tool to take care of themselves. Reporter for nicholas clark, he says he has described and tried to get off of the heroin, as it is described for the body, mind and soul. The thing about heroin is that it never ends. The life is full of dissatisfaction. And in order to be in possession of that kind of dissatisfaction, you have to give up anything and everything you care about. It is a real ripoff. Reporter the story of opiate addiction, from the streets to the nonprofits, medics and doctors. If people dont survive, that is the tragedy. They never get a chance. Back you start asking yourself why am i even hear. Exactly, and if we are not here to help people to get a chance, then i dont know what we are doing. Reporter holding out a hand, hoping that someone grabbed hold and never let go. Coming up, and heroin is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to fighting opiate addiction. A more powerful drug is making a comeback, and some users that are overdosing dont even know they are taking it. Dont you just love it from bank of america to buy a new gym bag. Before earning 1 cash back everywhere, every time and 2 back at the grocery store. Even before he got 3 back on gas. Kenny used his bankamericard cash rewards credit card to join the wednesday night league. Because he loves to play hoops. Not jump through them. Thats the excitement of rewarding connections. Apply online or at a bank of america near you. We are talking about the overdosed reversal drug narcan, or naloxone. Reporter 1 00 in the afternoon, a man gets on the public bus, finds a seat in takes a sip of his drink. And what the Surveillance Video captures next is shocking. This is the 25yearold, michael, shooting heroin into his arm, and you see the effects of the drug, and he passes out into the aisle overdosing. But he does not die, and the drug called naloxone , also known as narcan saved him. Is someone is not awake or not breathing because of the opiate, they can get the naloxone and it will snap them out of it. Reporter and because of this drug, he was able to stand and walk off the bus. But the story is the same all across the country, including in the bay area. Naloxone is given away for free, carried by the First Responders with one goal, saving lives. The opiate binds to a receptor in the brain and has the cause and effect, and the naloxone will go in and block the receptor so that the opiate cannot bind to the receptor. Reporter it comes in a nasal spray for a bye with a syringe. The First Responder or even a bystander can safely and legally sprayed the naloxone into a persons nose, or injected into a muscle. It works fast. The people wake up in a matter of minutes. Reporter and dope stands for Drug Overdose prevention education. We work to ensure that the drug users and San Francisco and any other potential overdose bystander, or someone that witnesses and overdose is equipped with the education to use the naloxone. Reporter according to the doctor with the San FranciscoPublic Health department, the side effects of the naloxone can feel awful, but it keeps the heroin addicts from dying. Nobody wants to be administered naloxone because it causes the opiate withdrawal. It is not something they like to get. You feel terrible and you are nauseated, vomiting, sweaty and you feel like you are going to die. Reporter which supporters say that it is exactly why the argument that naloxone encourages drug use is not accurate. Naloxone is an extremely uncomfortable, awful experience for people that have administered to them, and it put you into withdrawal. It makes you incredibly sick. People do not want it administered to them, and people do not use drugs excessively in order to have naloxone given to them. Reporter and although naloxone does not address the addiction, it does keep the person alive for when or if the person decides to seek help. And part of the groups goal is to educate the drug users, family and friends about naloxone because they are the people most likely to step in and save the life of someone that is overdosing. The programs or to empower people that use drugs with this tool, and they are the most likely First Responders, and they are the people there when someone is in trouble. A part of our work is about giving people respect and dignity, and to have control over their own lives. Reporter we have been talking about heroin, but there is another opiate that is reaching epidemic proportions, and most people have not even heard of it, fentanyl, 50 times stronger than heroin. Dozens of people right here in Northern California have overdosed recently without even realizing what they were taking. Back i have died about three times. It is euphoric, and you are in a literal dream state of mind. That stuff is no joke. Vietnam. Reporter this man goes by the name easy and he was working on skyscrapers, and two Car Accidents got him hooked on prescription pain pills, which led to heroin and shooting up on the streets. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin, 100 times stronger than morphine, typically given to Cancer Patients through a patch, but it is also being placed into the counterfeit prescription painkillers. They look just like the real thing. Reporter dr. David goldstein says it is hard to tell the difference. People buy them and think they are hydrocodone and they in fact have fentanyl. Reporter putting out alerts following seven fentanyl overdoses sense of march, 14 died and 52 overdoses in the sacramento area. Last summer heroin was laced with it not, hitting San Francisco heroin laced with vietnam fentanyl and it hit San Francisco hard. Eliza wheeler is manager of the dope project, and they give narcan, naloxone for free. This was the worst time of it, people were overdosing left and right. Reporter when fentanyl ravaged the city, they reversed 25 overdoses in three months. Back 325 in one summer, and that would have been a national crisis. Reporter now they are worried about another crisis because they believe that the recent overdoses are linked because the pills have a similar marking. We do not want people getting pills off of the streets. Reporter they say that fentanyl is likely produced in china, shipped through mexico. They can purchase a kilogram of fentanyl from overseas for approximately 3300 wholesale, generating over 1 million in revenue off of that kilogram of fentanyl. Reporter fentanyl is reaching all corners of the country, and in San Francisco they availability of naloxone has helped to save lives when the emergencies happen. We have the established naloxone program, and we are not seeing the death that other places are. That might kill them because little do they know that there is fentanyl in it. Reporter after living on the streets for year, easy is tired, and says he would rather be working on the skyscrapers again rather than shooting up to get high. Heroin and opioid addiction does not affect just the drug user. It impacts the family, friends and community, and one family shares their message, after the break. Hey they go ooh ooh. Hey they go ohoohooooh. Sitting, watching, waiting, wishing. I tell you one thing, you never knew it. At the back of the bus there is so much to give, so dream big. Yeah. And when they screaming get out, get out. All i wanna hear is get down, get down. Get full on summer at target. Get a 10 target giftcard when you spend 50 on groceries. This sunday and monday only. Details at target. Com. Heroin addiction can rip a family apart, and emotions fluctuate from the lows, to the highs, and back to the lows. Since her brother died of an overdose, she is shared in her book, witnessing heroin taking over the lives of the loved ones. Reporter pat was my youngest brother. The youngest of four. He was so full of life. He was funny, and a jokester, and incredibly athletic. He would jump off of a roof, out of a tree, and really so gentle, and had such a loving and sweet quality. The path that he took was something that none of us could have anticipated. What happened in early 2009 . I find out that he had been battling an addiction to painkillers, and he was a few years in at that point, but we did not know that he had switched from abusing the prescription painkillers to heroin. He overdosed more times probably than we knew about. And they were able to get him to the hospital in time, and he had a court date the next morning, and the judge ordered him into a 30 day outpatient clinic. And he was supposed to live with my mom and she would drive him to rehab, and that happened and he completed the program, and i think we thought that he was better. He wasnt. Two weeks later, he went back to la and overdosed on heroin and died. Reporter over the days and weeks, how did you feel . Was their anger toward the drug, toward your brother, toward his friends or girlfriend . Take us back to those emotions. I was completely numb. It felt like a dream, something that could not possibly be true. It is just black and dark. I think i blocked out a lot of the memories of him because it was so inconceivable to me that i could lose him. Reporter do you think that pat lost control of his life, or that heroin to control of his life . I think both. He was so young when he died, and when he started using the prescription pain killers that caused a change in his brain. At that age, the brain is not fully developed, and when you add something powerful like an opioid in the mix, it changes the brain and i think he was taken over by it. I want to understand how that happened to him, so i started going through papers, and i found a journal that he kept for many years. Reporter what did he write about . He wrote about the pain of being addicted, and how he wanted to die because it was so painful. Recently, we met heroin addicts on the street, quite the different picture. It tells two different stories but they are tied to this one drug. You have talked with other addicts out there, and do they have something, and that you have noticed in your discussions with them . Weather on the streets or in the suburbs . One thing i have noticed, even if they seem like they do not care or dont know what they are doing to themselves, or the pain they cause for others, they know. Reporter and you decided to write a book. I thought that this was a story that people need to know about. I think that my whole is that in writing the book and me talking to all of these other addicts and families, i came to an understanding bright felt like i was in a more compassionate place. And i wished i had had that compassion when my brother was still alive. I dont know that it would have changed the past, but i think it would have changed the conversation that we had around his addiction. And when people read the book and read about how awful this is for every member of the family, and everyone loves an addict, and that they can come to a more compassionate place of understanding. Reporter and if you could tell pat something seven years later, what would you tell him . I think i would forgive him. And i would forgive myself. You hear erin talking about the emotion after his death, the numbness and darkness, and yet she found the strength to put it on paper in that book to help other families going through the same situation. And it really is true that it takes a village in order to help someone overcome an addiction, and it could be happening to someone you love, someone you know, and it takes a village to help them get through it. We will be right back. People love my portobello mushroom buttery jack, made with portobello mushrooms, grilled onions, and garlic herb butter. Ever wonder how i came up with it . Well. Actually, i came up with it at the water cooler. But i thought youd like this cowboy story better. The portobello mushroom buttery jack is back. Part of the buttery jack family. Taste it before its gone. If you would like to learn more about any of the resources mentioned today, you can find them on our website, ktvu. Com. We have posted links for you to get information or help. That concludes this report, and thank you for watching. We are live in the south bay to tell you about memorial stadiums, and we will also tell you about unique opportunities to pay tribute to the veterans. And game 7 tonight as the warriors head for the chance for the nba finals. Good morning and thank you for joining us on this monday, good morning and thank you for joining us on this monday, may 30, memorial day. I went for the shark colors and warriors colors. I am pam cook. Good morning, i am dave clark, and we will check on the weather. Rosemary is in