Contributions by Betsy Beard

The date is engraved on my heart. It seems so wrong; anniversaries should be for celebrating a joyous occasion, not for acknowledging a death.

When our son died, "normal" flew out the window and hasn't returned. And because of its departure, leaving confusion, chaos, and disarray in its wake.

Whether you are just starting out on your grief journey or are years past the date of the death, attending TAPS events may be just what you need this year.

Here are some books that can help fill the void and bring extra support at this time of year.

Survivor mom, Betsy Beard shares the "normal" part of the fog of grief and how to deal with it in a positive light so you can eventually move on.

It is said that one of the tasks of grieving is to relocate the loved one from being a physical presence to that of residing in our hearts and memories.

The Poems of Sascha Wagner is a volume of poetry sold exclusively by The Compassionate Friends (TCF).

Since October of 2000 when the first Run and Remember Team of two runners raised nearly $5,000, fundraising has been a part of the team’s efforts on behalf of TAPS.

I surprised myself by buying and actually reading a book with the word "choices" in the title. And not just one or two choices. Seven of them.

The start of a new calendar year is a chance to realize once again that we are, in fact, still living.

Runners benefit from having a meaningful focus to their run and a charity partner to support. Family members benefit by having their loved ones honored.

The Healing Book is a hardcover activity and memory book designed for children who have survived the death of someone close.

For the first time, TAPS expanded the Run and Remember Team to include our TAPS children running the Marine Corps Marathon Healthy Kids Fun Run.

100 Practical Ideas is actually a series of books including different volumes customized for the relationship or the type of loss.

Healing After Loss is divided into 365 daily readings. Each reading starts with a short quotation followed by several paragraphs exploring the topic.

Klinger is a young horse dreaming of fame as a racehorse. But his life is disrupted when he must leave his parents and start a new life.

Try to keep in mind that saving everything in boxes and footlockers until you die may prevent others from enjoying memories, finding meaning, or honoring your loved one.

Betsy Beard clears up the confusion around the Next of Kin and Gold Lapel Buttons awarded to surviving family members.

The Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is a gold embossed certificate signed by the current President in memory of any honorably discharged deceased veteran.

If you become discouraged in your efforts to contemplate your future and figure out who you are now, consider getting additional support from TAPS.

We had no choice in the circumstances that have taken our loved ones. But we do have a choice in opening our hearts to each other.

Recognizing how different a military death is for the surviving children is an important step in helping them cope with grief.

They both agree that, if at all humanly possible, it is important to maintain the family ties with the people who raised their children’s father.