Saturday Morning Message: Honoring Our Loved Ones On Memorial Day
Author: TAPS
Good Morning,
TAPS families from across the country will gather both in person and virtually for our 27th Annual National Military Seminar and Good Grief Camp over Memorial Day Weekend. This is always a weekend full of love and connection among survivors supporting survivors.
As we come together to honor our nation's fallen heroes, our loved ones, we pause to reflect on the life they led and the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy every day. While many of us still experience the emotional waves of grief from our loss, may we also recognize that coming together, however we are able, may shed light for us to embrace hope and strengthen our own resilience for the future.
To learn more about ways to connect with other survivors through TAPS over Memorial Day Weekend and how our nation will be honoring all those who have served and died, please visit our About Memorial Day page.
"Let their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored." – Daniel Webster
Question for the Week
As our nation honors all those who have served and died and their families over Memorial Day Weekend, how will you honor and celebrate the life of your loved one?
Thank you for your willingness to share your thoughts with all of us in the Saturday Morning Message! As you lean into these questions with courage and transparency, you are growing the foundation of support that is TAPS - and we are so grateful for you.
Much Love,
TAPS
▶▶ We Welcome Your Reply
In order to have your response included, please send them by by Tuesday morning, May 18, to online@taps.org. The Saturday Morning Message (SMM) was created for survivors to share information with those who have subscribed with each other.
Response To Last Week’s Question:
What resources do you wish you had as a caregiver? What are some things that would have helped you better prepare for your transition from a caregiver to a survivor?
From Rose, wife of Troy: I wish I had more knowledge about medical stuff at that time. I wish I could have done more for my husband. I wish I could ask around for anything to help. I felt so alone because even his own doctor did not tell me the truth that my husband would be dying in a few weeks. There are too many wishes that I could have turned things around, had I known. I wish I had known of other resources to help make my husband more comfortable.
If I could turn back time, I would have researched his illness myself instead of relying on a case manager that didn't tell me anything. Then, I could have been a better caregiver. I would continue going to grief therapy too. After my husband passed away, it helped me not to think about him so much when I decided to go back to college; and, I went to the same college where he had received his Master's Degree in Math and Physics. This was the only way for me to feel closer to him - being in any place I knew he had been to.
From Kelsey, mother of Michael: I was my son's caregiver for his mental health issues. He barely left the house and, when he did, he needed me very close. I even went to his counseling sessions. His death was sudden and not related to his mental health. I don't know the reason for his death; but losing what was my identity overnight put me in a tailspin. We were constant companions for six years and in losing him I lost myself. I still haven't learned to live without him and it's been nearly five years. On Mother's Day, he always cooked a nice meal for me. I miss that very much.
▶▶ We Welcome Your Comments
If you would like to send a note commenting on one or all of the responses in this week’s Saturday Morning Message, send it to online@taps.org and your thoughts will be passed along to each contributor. You never know how your words may touch the heart of another.
▶▶ Send Your Favorite Song, Poem or Recipe
We often publish songs, poems, or recipes that have special meaning for our survivors. If you have a favorite that you would like to share with the Saturday Morning Message community, please send it to online@taps.org and include a note about why it is meaningful to you. These beautiful points of connection can offer hope and inspiration to others.
Other Items and Events of Interest
Join us on Memorial Day Weekend, May 28 to 30, for our 27th Annual National Military Survivor Seminar! We will be live streaming all of our general sessions with guest speakers.
Important Note: In-person registration is still open, but we are in a waitlist situation due to COVID occupancy restrictions in the State of Virginia.
If you have any questions, email seminarregistrations@taps.org or call our Helpline at 202.588.TAPS (8277).
▶▶ Connect With Your TAPS Family
You can discover all the opportunities to connect with your TAPS Family on our website at the TAPS Event Calendar.
About the Saturday Morning Message
The Saturday Morning Message (SMM) is a weekly communication contributed by survivors. The primary focus of the SMM is to foster peer-based connections for support and encouragement. It is the goal of this communication to foster a safe, supportive place where we can openly share in a nonjudgmental and caring manner. Read and contribute as you are comfortable. Content submitted for the SMM is edited for space considerations and may be used in other TAPS publications. The loving family at TAPS is available to you 24 hours a day. Please call 202-588-TAPS (8277).