(CNN) -- Americans across the country are finding ways to honor those who served this Memorial Day, including one very special mother.
When Lisa Freeman's son was killed in combat in Afghanistan, she says she would not allow herself to go to a dark place.
Instead, she started sewing. For her, it's a time to sit, focus and help others sewing in a tiny upstairs room in a grand house on the Georgia coast.
"Makes me stop and think about Matthew. He was only over there nine days when he was killed," Freeman said.
Marine Captain Matthew Freeman was killed in combat while serving in Afghanistan.
"He's loving that something good is happening out of something so tragic," said Freeman when asked what her son would think of the project.
Freeman crafts bears from the combat uniforms of the fallen.
"I can tell you as I'm doing this I am thinking about the young woman who brought me these,” Freeman said about her latest project. “This was her brother Shannon Chihuhua's pants and when she first came to me she just wanted to talk about her brother and how much she missed him And so for her this is just one more thing that she can say, ‘That's your uncle Shannon's. That’s my Shannon bear.’ Shannon Chihuhua, thank you for your service."
The bear might be for specialist Shannon Chihuhua's nephews, but it's his sister Jessica who's clutching them.
"When my kids are grown, and older, even for me… it's something that we'll always have -- and we'll always have his memories," Jessica C. Frausto said remembering her brother.
Cpt. Matthew Freeman was a third generation Naval Aviator. He was killed in Kapisa province, Afghanistan, Aug 7, 2009, he was 29. Cpt Freeman is survived by his wife, parents, and two sisters.
Spc. Shannon Chihuahua was an army medic. He was killed in Kunar province, Afghanistan, Nov 12, 2010 he was 25. Spc. Chihuahua is survived by his wife two daughters, two sisters and two brothers.
