TAPS to Welcome Families of America’s Fallen Military Heroes for Memorial Day Weekend Events in Washington
23rd National Military Survivor Seminar to Include More Than 2,000 Spouses, Parents, Children, Siblings and Battle Buddies for Five Days of Commemoration, Connection
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 16, 2017
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will welcome more than 2,000 participants to the nation’s capital over Memorial Day Weekend as part of its 23rd Annual National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp.
Kicking off on Thursday, May 25, the event will last five days, culminating at Arlington National Cemetery with the official ceremonies on Memorial Day, May 29. The seminar, which offers a Good Grief Camp for children and informative workshops for adults focused on coping with traumatic grief, provides many opportunities for surviving family members to remember the life and legacy of their fallen loved ones, including those killed in action, those who died of illness and suicide and those who died as a result of accidents or other circumstances.
"The TAPS family celebrates the lives and legacies of our fallen heroes every day, but on Memorial Day we join with all Americans to honor their lives of selfless service and sacrifice," said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder and 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. "Over Memorial Day Weekend, many families of the fallen gather together here in Washington to connect with and support each other, and we are joined by the tens of thousands of additional families across the country who are commemorating the lives of their loved ones in their local communities."
At the TAPS Good Grief Camp, more than 500 children who have lost a loved one as a result of their military service will learn coping strategies and meet other children grieving a loss like themselves. During the camp, the surviving children are paired one-on-one with volunteer military mentors, trained by TAPS, who are on active duty, in the National Guard or reserve forces or who are recent veterans.
As the Title Sponsor of this year's TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar, the New York Life Foundation has provided a grant to support the TAPS Good Grief Camp including assistance for travel expenses to families and mentors. NYLF employees will also volunteer their time during the weekend as they have since the partnership began in 2012.
MEDIA IS INVITED TO ATTEND SEMINAR ACTIVITES:
Thursday, May 25 - Family Arrivals
11 to 9 p.m. - Program Check-In
Meet families of fallen military as they arrive from across the country.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Good Grief Camp Check-In
Meet children of fallen military as they arrive from across the country, and interview military mentors as well as volunteers of New York Life Foundation as they support the Good Grief Camp Zone.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington.
Friday, May 26 - Good Grief Camp, Opening Ceremonies, Evening Family Outings
4 to 9 a.m. - Morning Show Stand-ups Available
Interview TAPS Founder and President Bonnie Carroll and surviving family members of America’s fallen military heroes as they pay tribute to their loved ones who died in service to our nation.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - TAPS Good Grief Camp
Children and teens engage in interactive activities to help cope with military loss and trauma with the help of military mentors.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Meet Families of the Fallen, Talk with Experts on Military Loss
Interviews available.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
11 a.m. to noon - Opening Ceremonies
Get video of keynote speaker retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as he welcomes everyone to this year’s seminar. Kimberly Dozier of CNN and the Daily Beast will be the emcee.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
Noon to 5 p.m. - Artful Grief
Drop in on our art therapy studio and see how healing art can be.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
5 to 10:30 p.m. - TAPS Family Outings
Follow families as they enjoy a tour of the Pentagon, the U.S. Marine Corps Evening Parade, the Washington Nationals v. Padres baseball game, a trolley tour of Washington or a family fun night at the hotel.
Various locations
Saturday, May 27 - Workshops, Monuments, Field Day and the Best of the Military Chefs
5 to 9 a.m. - Morning Show Stand-ups Available
Interview Bonnie Carroll and the surviving families of military loss as they pay tribute to their loved ones who died in service to our nation.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
7 to 8 a.m. - Sun Salutations Yoga
Get footage as families experience the healing power of gentle yoga.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
9 a.m. to noon – Good Grief Camp Offsite Activities: Monuments and Museums
Follow surviving children as they work through grief with the help of their military mentors during special outings.
Various locations
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Meet Families of the Fallen, Talk with Experts on Military Loss
Interviews available.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
5:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. - Field Day U.S.A.
Interview military mentors as they spend time with children of fallen military in interactive games and kick off TAPS #GratefulNation Challenge with a living legacy lap.
Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, 3675 Ely Place, S.E., Washington, D.C.
6 to 9 p.m. - TAPS Grand Banquet and the Best of the Military Chefs
Survivors will enjoy dinner together as they further connections; the event will feature Chef Robert Irvine and the best of the military chefs.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
Sunday, May 28 - Workshops, Good Grief Camp, TAPS Family BBQ
4 to 9 a.m. - Morning Show Stand-ups Available
Interview Bonnie Carroll and surviving families of military loss as they pay tribute to their loved ones who died in service to our nation.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - TAPS Good Grief Camp
Children and teens engage in interactive activities on coping with military loss and trauma with the help of military mentors.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Meet Families of the Fallen, Talk with Experts on Military Loss
Interviews available.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
4 to 5 p.m. - Good Grief Camp Closing Ceremonies
Get photos and interview military mentors as children close this year’s Good Grief Camp.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
5 to 8 p.m. - TAPS Family BBQ
Meet surviving military loved ones as they connect during a meal with their new family as they create lifelong friendships. The event begins as military mentors march into the family BBQ.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
Monday, May 29 - Memorial Day Observances at Arlington National Cemetery, Memorial Day Parade
4 to 7 a.m. - Morning Show Stand-ups Available
Interview Bonnie Carroll and surviving families of military loss as they pay tribute to their loved ones who died in service to our nation.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington
8 a.m. to noon - Memorial Day Observances at Arlington National Cemetery
Media can begin arriving at Arlington National Cemetery at 7:30 a.m. for national observances or to get photos and interviews in Section 60 where the Iraq and Afghanistan fallen are interred. A wreath will be presented at the Tomb of the Unknowns on behalf of the children of the fallen by children who attended the camp, most likely around 11:30 a.m. Families will visit Section 60 following the program before buses return to the hotel.
Media access for the cemetery must be coordinated with Arlington National Cemetery Public Affairs Office and media access for the amphitheater must be coordinated with the Military District of Washington.
2 to 4:30 p.m. - National Memorial Day Parade: TAPS Float
A TAPS float will be part of the beginning of the parade procession. Surviving family members will ride on and walk alongside the float to honor and remember their loved ones who died in service to America. Families will wear red t-shirts and carry photos of their heroes. For more information, visit www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com.
SPONSORS AND SUPPORT:
The 23rd TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar & Good Grief Camp is only possible with the generous support of partners including New York Life Foundation; USAA; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Walmart; BAE Systems; HSBC; Booz Allen Hamilton; Giant Food; Mission BBQ; American Greetings, Inc.; Ashton Tiffany; GEICO; Hasbro, Inc.; National Basketball Association; Northrop Grumman Corp.; Fort Myer Thrift Shop; Carmine’s; United Concordia; Coca Cola; Grunt Style and K-DEER.
Special appreciation is extended to the Fisher House Foundation Hero Miles Program which made it possible for 306 military survivors to join us for the weekend. For more information on how to donate your frequent flier miles, go to fisherhouse.org/programs/hero-miles/.
MEDIA RSVP REQUIRED:
To attend any part of the TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar, contact Christine Fuentes at christine.fuentes@taps.org or 202-588-TAPS (8277).
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: @TAPSorg
Hashtag: #GratefulNation
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TAPSorg
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 70,000 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).