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Mothers Who Have Lost a Child in the Armed Forces Gather in Charleston

Grieving Mothers Find Healing Connecting With One Another at Five-Day TAPS Retreat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 16, 2018

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will host mothers who have lost a child in the armed forces at a healing retreat in Charleston, South Carolina from October 17-21. The five-day retreat provides an opportunity for bereaved mothers from across the country to come together to honor their loved ones, connect with one another and gain new tools to cope with their grief.

The Charleston retreat allows grieving mothers to step away from the stressors of daily life and into a supportive environment where they can focus on their healing and connect with other mothers who understand their experience.  The retreat will include outdoor activities and quiet moments of reflection that allow participants to create new bonds and honor their fallen heroes.

"The death of a child is devastating,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder and a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. “In Charleston, TAPS brings together surviving mothers of military loss to honor their son or daughter, share their grief with other moms, and find hope and healing through the compassionate care TAPS offers.”

INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY:

Thursday, Oct. 18 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – interviews available during a group kayaking activity at Isle of Palms Marina with TAPS peer professional staff members and surviving mothers

Friday, Oct. 19 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – interviews available at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms with TAPS peer professional staff members and surviving mothers

Saturday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – interviews available at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palmswith TAPS peer professional staff members and surviving mothers

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS:

  • Gail Simmons, TAPS Survivor Care Team and surviving mother of Army Pfc. Ryan C. Simmons
  • Kristin Whitchurch, TAPS Survivor Care Team and surviving mother of Marine Corps Cpl. Jonathan W. Heston
  • Laurie Turner, surviving mother of Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryan Turner
  • Belinda Jividen, surviving mother of Army Capt. Benjamin Joseph Ronk

MEDIA RSVP REQUESTED:

Please contact Rita Barry-Corke or Victoria Leoni at (571) 385-2570 or media@taps.org to arrange interviews with TAPS staff or participants or attend any part of the retreat.

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ABOUT TAPS

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the leading national organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to more than 80,000 survivors of fallen military in the form of peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).