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Families of Fallen Heroes to Participate in NFL ‘Salute to Service’ Events Across the Country During Veterans Day Weekend

Military heroes to be honored during games in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Charlotte as more than 400 surviving family members participate in activities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nov. 9, 2017

ARLINGTON, Va. –  More than 400 family members who have lost loved ones during their service to the nation will attend Salute to Service activities at National Football League (NFL) events over the Veterans Day weekend with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), honoring the lives of their fallen heroes and building new family memories together.

The weekend will be filled with opportunities for families to connect with one another, to celebrate their heroes and enjoy a very special experience with the NFL at games with the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. Players will wear the initials of a fallen hero on their helmets and will meet the families of the service member they honor at games this weekend.

“TAPS is grateful to the NFL for its longstanding commitment to the men and women of our armed forces,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS president and founder. “For the families of those who have lost loved ones in military, the NFL has offered extraordinary experiences on the field where families have honored their fallen heroes and cheered on their favorite teams. This very personal way of honoring a fallen hero and recognizing their families began with the Carolina Panthers in 2015."

In addition to TAPS, the NFL, along with its Salute to Service partners, supports the Pat Tillman Foundation, USO and Wounded Warrior Project, to fund programs and provide resources that positively impact active-duty and veteran military members and their families. NFL funding supported the creation and implementation of a team4taps program at this year’s Pro Bowl and will again in 2018. The NFL also recently funded a TAPS International program to support the reconciliation of U.S. military survivors with survivors abroad, as well as youth mentorship and counseling programs including Good Grief Camps for surviving children.

“TAPS families deserve meaningful opportunities to recognize their loved one’s service to this country,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson. “The Falcons, Panthers and Rams, among other NFL clubs, are creating wonderful experiences for these families to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

 The TAPS sports program, teams4taps, creates meaningful opportunities for the surviving families of America's military fallen by engaging with​ ​the ​athletes and teams they cheered for with their hero. teams4taps works with more than 150 sports teams across the country, and since its inception in 2013, has touched the lives of thousands of surviving military families.

 “The best way to honor the fallen is to recognize their families, a living legacy to their service and sacrifice for the freedom and protection of our nation,” said TAPS Vice President of Sports & Entertainment Diana Hosford. “TAPS is able to create these very special opportunities because of the support from NFL clubs like the Falcons, the Panthers and the Rams.”

 

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).