But the unspeakable violence inflicted on this community has spurred a very public purpose for the family: bringing awareness to traumatic brain injuries among military members and a call to action for continued research. Other family members also alerted local law enforcement, which visited Card's home in the weeks before the shooting but did not make contact. Maine's medical examiner requested a postmortem study of Card's brain, which was conducted by the Boston University CTE Center. Through Card's brain being examined after his death, Herling learned about so-called brain banks, a collection of donated brain tissue used for research and education. "Here, I brought the very helmet meant to safeguard my brother's brain," she said, showing the commission the military headgear.

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Persons: cornhole, Nicole Herling, Robert Card, Nicole, James Herling, Card, Herling, James, Craig F, Walker, Lester Holt, Chris Nowinski, We're, Nowinski, Ryan Card, It's, Leroy Walker Sr, who've, Joseph Walker, They're, it's, Robbie, Brenda Breslauer, Erik Ortiz Organizations: Army, NBC, Army Reserve, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University, Boston Globe, Getty, NBC News, Brain Bank, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Defense Department, Schemengees Locations: LEWISTON, Maine, Lewiston, Afghanistan, Iraq, Auburn , Maine, Boston, West Point , New York, New York