We are serving in a dangerous world, and every day our Servicemembers are called upon to undergo hazardous and dangerous missions in defense of our country. Sometimes members of our country give their lives in the line of duty, and their service is greatly appreciated, and remembered. Each of the families of these men and women has friends and families that they leave behind. The Tragedy assistance program for Survivors was created to provide a source of support, comfort and cares to aid the families of these brave Servicemembers.
One of the wives of a Servicemember who was killed in the line of duty decided that there needed to be something more. Bonnie Carroll founded the TAPS program in the year 1994 after she had experienced her own military tragedy. Her husband was formerly Army Brigadier General Tom Carroll who perished in the crash of an aircraft in 1992 in Alaska. Mrs. Carroll found support and assistance from the support of peers, families and friends that had also lost family in the same manner. It was at this point that Mrs. Carroll realized that other Servicemembers needed the same sort of support and comfort that she had experienced.
Mrs. Carroll created a non-profit national organization that is made to serve and support military service members and friends and families. It is an organization that was created to support those that have been affected by a death or tragic loss from the death of a military Servicemember. The organization is one that offers free supportive services, referral and counseling, as well as grief support and care. They have created an ongoing network of services using existing resources, as well as donated goods and services to support and comfort those who have suffered a loss.
There are a number of programs that exist created by the TAPS program. They support a peer mentor program to support those who have experienced a loss by people who have been there. They created a Community based Survivor Link program, for group and individual support of families who have lost a Servicemember. They also sponsor a four-day national event in the Washington D.C. area, called a National Military Survivor Seminar, and Good Grief Camp. This camp has been held successfully for the last five years since 2003.
