Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence to Officially Open TAPS Good Grief Camp Friday for Children of Fallen Military Members
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 24, 2018
ARLINGTON, Va. –- Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence will officially open the 24th Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) National Military Survivor Seminar Friday morning welcoming children from across the nation who are grieving the death of a loved one in the military. Over 1,000 children and TAPS military mentors will participate in the annual TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp over Memorial Day weekend.
At the TAPS Good Grief Camp, children of the fallen are paired with volunteer Military Mentors who have been trained by TAPS to help them explore grief in an age-appropriate way.
"At TAPS, we pay particular attention to the child’s grief journey," said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder. "Over Memorial Day Weekend, these children will learn coping strategies and will meet other children grieving the loss of a loved one who served in the military. It’s important that they know they are not alone and that there are other children who understand their experience.”
More than 2,000 participants will take part in the four-day program which offers workshops for adults grieving the loss of a loved one in the military along with an opportunity for families to remember the life and legacy of their hero. Attendees will include the loved ones of those who died by hostile action, suicide, accident or illness. The program is open to all who are grieving a military loss, with parents, widows, children, extended family and friends attending.
ABOUT TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 75,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides 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).
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RSVP REQUIRED FOR INTERVIEWS AND ATTENDANCE AT NATIONAL MILITARY SURVIVOR SEMINAR:
For permission to participate, contact Rita Barry-Corke at rita@taps.org or Christine Fuentes at christine.fuentes@taps.org, or by phone at 202.588.TAPS (8277).
Note: The press pre-set time for Friday opening events is between 7-7:45 a.m. sharp.