TAPS Celebrates Senate Resolution to Establish “Gold Star Families Remembrance Week”
September 23-29 Designated to Honor Families of Fallen Military Heroes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 20, 2018
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will host a congressional reception on Monday, September 24 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building to celebrate the passage of Senate Resolution 522, which designates September 23-29, 2018 as “Gold Star Families Remembrance Week.” The sponsor of the resolution, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith from Mississippi, will speak at the event. Other expected guests include Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
The legislation expands the national commemoration of Gold Star families from the final Sunday in September to the entire final week of the month. It provides the opportunity for individuals, families, communities and the nation to honor fallen service members and acknowledge the tremendous sacrifice of the families they left behind.
The resolution calls on the nation to remember all families who have suffered the loss of loved ones who died in service to the United States, as well as families of deceased veterans of the Armed Forces.
“We commend the Senate for passage of this resolution which recognizes the extraordinary and ongoing sacrifice of families who have lost loved ones serving in our Armed Forces,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder. “We are heartened by the inclusiveness of the resolution that guarantees that no surviving military family is forgotten in this time of national commemoration.”
The resolution was agreed to in the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent earlier this month.
“We are a proud supporter of this resolution to designate a full week to honoring our nation’s Gold Star families,” said Ashlynne Haycock, TAPS Deputy Director of Policy and Legislation. “Memorial Day exists to honor the fallen, but Gold Star Families Remembrance Week provides the opportunity to honor surviving military families themselves.”
Who: Members of Congress, congressional staffers, representatives from veterans organizations, TAPS staff and families of fallen military heroes
What: Congressional reception to honor Gold Star Families Remembrance Week as designated by Senate Resolution 522
Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building Room G50
When: Monday, September 24, 2018, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
MEDIA RSVP REQUESTED:
Please contact Rita Barry-Corke at rita@taps.org or call her at (860) 304-1807 if you plan to attend the reception or wish to schedule interviews.
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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).