TAPS Families at 2019 NFL Pro Bowl

TAPS families are at the Pro Bowl in Florida this weekend to connect with other surviving families, honor the lives of their fallen heroes, create new memories together, and of course, cheer on their favorite athletes and teams.

The opportunity for families to watch professional players practice, attend the big game on Sunday and participate in other activities is made possible through a grant provided by the NFL to TAPS. The Pro Bowl is the all-star exhibition game of the National Football League.

Photo: Pablo Piedra

“TAPS is grateful to the NFL for its longstanding commitment to the men and women of our armed forces, their families and the families of the fallen,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President.

“Celebrating the families of service members who sacrificed for this country is just one way to honor their legacy,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, Anna Isaacson.

The TAPS sports program, teams4taps, creates meaningful opportunities for survivors to engage with​ ​the ​athletes and teams they cheered for with their fallen hero. The program works with more than 175 sports teams across the country, and since its inception in 2013, has touched the lives of thousands of surviving military families. TAPS families have participated in Pro Bowl activities with the NFL for the last three years.

“One of the best ways to honor those who have given their lives for freedom is to recognize and support their families, the living legacy to their service and sacrifice,” said TAPS Vice President of Sports and Entertainment, Diana Hosford. “While we cannot take away the pain of the loss, we can all help families make new, happy memories together. Being invited to share in the joy of the Pro Bowl, which showcases the very best of the NFL, means so much to the more than 85,000 TAPS survivors across America.”