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In the News

When moving on is a marathon

Lisa Hallett’s husband was killed nearly three years ago in Afghanistan. Now, she is one of thousands of war widows trying to get on with her life.

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As a single parent, Lisa Hallett, 31, juggles multiple tasks; cooking for her three kids, fixing the kitchen sink and checking messages on her phone. Lisa's husband, Capt. John L. Hallett III, was killed in August 2009 in Afghanistan when insurgents exploded a bomb underneath his armored vehicle.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Bath time at the Hallett home with Jackson, 6; Bryce, 4; and Heidi, 2. They still live near Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington state, where John was based, but many of Lisa's other friends who knew her husband have moved on to other military assignments.

Bath time at the Hallett home with Jackson, 6; Bryce, 4; and Heidi, 2. They still live near Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington state, where John was based, but many of Lisa's other friends who knew her husband have moved on to other military assignments.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

With an ice pack wrapped around her foot after a long run earlier in the day, Lisa gets Heidi ready for bed.

With an ice pack wrapped around her foot after a long run earlier in the day, Lisa gets Heidi ready for bed.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Lisa, a former elementary school teacher, reads with the kids before bed. She talks often about their father, hoping to keep his memory fresh in their minds.

Lisa, a former elementary school teacher, reads with the kids before bed. She talks often about their father, hoping to keep his memory fresh in their minds.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Lisa touches her hand to her husband's name inscribed on a memorial to fallen soldiers in Dupont, Wash. 'We don't get a do-over. We just have to figure out how to move forward in a positive way,' she says.

Lisa touches her hand to her husband's name inscribed on a memorial to fallen soldiers in Dupont, Wash. "We don't get a do-over. We just have to figure out how to move forward in a positive way," she says.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Lisa runs along an abandoned railroad track on the Sequalitchew Creek Trail. She hopes to expand her running group, which started as a weekly run with spouses of other soldiers in her husband's unit, so that it has chapters at military bases throughout the country.

Lisa runs along an abandoned railroad track on the Sequalitchew Creek Trail. She hopes to expand her running group, which started as a weekly run with spouses of other soldiers in her husband's unit, so that it has chapters at military bases throughout the country.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Lisa marks a race route with the group's slogan: 'wear blue: run to remember.'

Lisa marks a race route with the group's slogan: "wear blue: run to remember."

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Members of Lisa's running group bow their heads in prayer for the soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan at a park near Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Members of Lisa's running group bow their heads in prayer for the soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan at a park near Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

The goal of the runs is to help family members keep alive the memories of their fallen soldiers. 'I think that one of the scariest things of a loved one passing away is that they will be forgotten,' Lisa says.

The goal of the runs is to help family members keep alive the memories of their fallen soldiers. "I think that one of the scariest things of a loved one passing away is that they will be forgotten," Lisa says.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Lisa, Heidi and Bryce meet with Harry Ein, a friend of John's, in Tacoma, Wash.

Lisa, Heidi and Bryce meet with Harry Ein, a friend of John's, in Tacoma, Wash.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Dressed and ready for school, Heidi waits for her brothers. Heidi was just 2 weeks old when her father was killed; he never had a chance to see her.

Dressed and ready for school, Heidi waits for her brothers. Heidi was just 2 weeks old when her father was killed; he never had a chance to see her.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

The young Halletts nap in the car as their mother drives to visit a friend.

The young Halletts nap in the car as their mother drives to visit a friend.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

'It's hard sometimes seeing people's lives move forward when I still feel stuck,' Lisa wrote in her journal.

"It's hard sometimes seeing people's lives move forward when I still feel stuck," Lisa wrote in her journal.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Lisa chose blue shirts for the running group because it was her husband's favorite color. It was one of many ways she makes sure that John -- and the sacrifice of other service members -- is not forgotten.

Lisa chose blue shirts for the running group because it was her husband's favorite color. It was one of many ways she makes sure that John -- and the sacrifice of other service members -- is not forgotten.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

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