A Soldier in the Family: An Evening with Nancy Ronquillo
Featured Book
A Soldier in the Family: A Mother Confronts the Invisible Wounds of War
Exploring the brutal legacy of the Global War on Terror as experienced by one soldier, one mother, one family, this debut memoir follows a twisted road of grief and generational trauma that ultimately leads to resilience and hope.
When Nancy’s young paratrooper son returns home from Iraq, he brings a dusty bag of disposable cameras in his duffel. No one knows that a few months later, he will die alongside his combat buddy.
Consumed by this shattering loss, Nancy begins a quest to understand what caused her son’s death. This riveting tale unveils powerful premonitions, stark truths, and dark secrets about the pull and presence of war in one family. Nancy’s firsthand account takes the blinders off, sharing the ravages of past wars—in Iraq, Vietnam, Burma, France, and beyond—and the poison their shadowy presence has spread through generations of her family.
Rooted in America’s heartland, Nancy struggles to find answers about what happened to her son, even as she plumbs the anguish and complex mystery of how to choose life after unfathomable loss. The hope and wisdom embedded in this story—of one soldier, one mother, one family—moves beyond the obvious to the hidden devastation and legacy burden of war. In bringing light to war’s enduring aftermath, this stark yet ultimately uplifting memoir presents a surprising alchemy of healing, and offers a clarion call to wage peace.
This book will be available for purchase at the event.
About This Event
We welcome to the store Nancy B. Ronquillo for a moving discussion about her new book, A Soldier in the Family. Exploring the brutal legacy of the Global War on Terror as experienced by one soldier, one mother, one family, this debut memoir follows a twisted road of grief and generational trauma that ultimately leads to resilience and hope.
Nancy B. Ronquillo is a nationally recognized leader for innovation and excellence in child and family services. She launched Leave No Family Behind in Illinois as a response to Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces initiative supporting service members and their families. Nancy and her spouse, Tom (a Vietnam veteran), raised three sons in Illinois. She is the daughter of a WWII veteran, granddaughter of a WWI veteran, and descendant of two American Revolution veterans. Nancy serves on the board of the National Veterans Art Museum and as an American Gold Star Mother. She lives in Mequon, Wisconsin.
Featured Author
Ronquillo, Nancy B.
About the Venue
The Book Stall
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