FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 26, 2012

WASHINGTON – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the national organization providing comfort and care to anyone grieving the death of someone who served in the military, will bring a group of surviving families of our fallen military to the White House for breakfast on Memorial Day with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. 

The surviving family members attending the breakfast are all people who have reached through their own grief to help other surviving families left behind by our fallen military. The list of survivors attending also reflects the inclusive nature of TAPS, which welcomes anyone grieving the death of someone who served in the Armed Forces, regardless of where they died, or how they died. The following people were invited to attend the breakfast representing TAPS:

Ellen Andrews, of Panama City, Fla., surviving fiancé of Navy Lieutenant David Huber, who died on Valentine’s Day in 1995 in a military training crash.

Ashley Brown, of Hyattsville, Md., surviving widow of Army Sergeant Jeffrey Brown, who died in Iraq in 2006 in a helicopter crash.

Marie Campbell, of Arlington, Texas, surviving widow of Air Force Technical Sergeant Dee Campbell, who died in Saudi Arabia in 1996 when terrorists bombed the Khobar Towers and killed 19 airmen.

Bonnie Carroll, of Washington, DC and Anchorage, Alaska, surviving widow of Army Brigadier General Tom Carroll, who died in 1992 when an Army National Guard C-12 plane crashed. 

James Gobble, of Hampstead, N.C., surviving brother of Navy Senior Chief Kimberly Hunter, who died by suicide in 2010.

Kyle Harper, of Seattle, Wash., surviving fiancé of Army Staff Sergeant Michael Hullender, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2007.

Carole Hilton, of Chesapeake, Va., surviving widow of Navy Lieutenant Lawrence Hilton, who died suddenly from an illness in 2004 while attending a military training. 

Erin Jacobsen, of Seattle, Wash., surviving fiancé of Army Corporal Jason Kessler, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2007.

Carol Lane, of White River Junction, Vt., surviving mother of Marine Sergeant Bryon Lane, who was killed in a helicopter training accident in 2001.

Ashley Martin, of Tacoma, Wash., surviving widow of Army Staff Sergeant Jack Martin, who was killed by a roadside bomb while deployed in the Philippines in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ami Neiberger-Miller, of Purcellville, Va., surviving sister of US Army Specialist Christopher Neiberger, who was killed in action in Iraq in August 2007.

Kim Ruocco, of Newbury, Mass., surviving widow of Marine Major John Ruocco, who died by suicide in 2005 following an Iraq combat deployment.

About TAPS
Since its founding in 1994 by bereaved military families, TAPS has helped more than 35,000 surviving family members and caregivers supporting families coping with the death of a loved one who served in the military. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, seminars, case work assistance, and a 24/7 resource and information help line 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 resource and information help line at 800.959.TAPS (8277).

Media Contact: Ami Neiberger-Miller, office 202.588.8277, ami@taps.org 

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