HELPING YOUNG WAR WIDOWS FIND HOPE AGAIN: TAPS RETREAT HELPS BEREAVED SPOUSES
Glamorous Getaway Helps Military Widows Have Fun, Build Supportive Bonds & Move Forward
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 26, 2012
LOS ANGELES –They are widows who’ve suffered the devastating deaths of their military husbands in wartime. At home they are picking up shattered dreams and many of them are raising children who are missing their dad. But for a few days in August, 40 military widows will learn to laugh again and know they are not alone. It’s part of the Glamorous Getaway retreat organized by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).
Forty military widows will travel to Los Angeles August 1-4 for the “Glamorous Getaway” where they’ll have fun and meet other women who’ve experienced the death of a loved one who served in the military.
Most of the widows attending the retreat are in their twenties. Many of the widows attending the retreat lost their husbands in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. Others lost their military husbands to suicide, sudden illness or accidents.
Wednesday, August 1 – the widows arrive in Los Angeles, attend an opening reception at the Intercontinental with celebrity special guests.
Thursday, August 2 – the widows will be treated to a glamorous all day Hollywood photo shoot with celebrity photographer Brian Bowen Smith, complete with professional hair and makeup. Physicians Formula Cosmetics donated 40 gift bags filled with beauty products to help the widows feel like stars during their photo shoot. The backdrop for the photo shoot will feature portraits of their handsome husbands who died while serving in the military. There will be plenty of time for sharing and bonding with each other on set!
Friday, August 3 – the widows will travel to the set of CSI: NY, where they will see how this popular television show is created with TAPS supporter, Gary Sinise. In the evening, they’ll attend a private film screening hosted by Creative Artists Agency in Beverly Hills.
Saturday, August 4 – the widows will head to Malibu for surfing lessons on the beach, with a picnic lunch hosted by Military Connection and Harvesting Happiness. Malibu beach will also be the site of their very moving closing ceremony that celebrates their strength and courage in rebuilding their lives.
On average, it takes 5-7 years for people experiencing the traumatic death of a loved one to reach a “new normal” and the impact of a military death lasts for a lifetime. Being able to talk with others who have experienced a similar loss helps military widows process their experiences, realize they are not alone and establish support networks.
This is the second of three retreats TAPS is holding this year for military widows, and is one of 30 events TAPS hosts around the country for all who are grieving including “Good Grief Camp Outs” for children, in addition to providing 24/7 support services to the surviving families of America’s fallen military.
MEDIA COVERAGE INVITED: TAPS is willing to permit media coverage during this event. Many widows and other survivors of our fallen military view being able to share about their loved one as a way to honor and celebrate their lives. TAPS founder Bonnie Carroll, who lost her husband, Army Brigadier General Tom Carroll, in a military plane crash in 1992 will attend the retreat and be available for media interviews.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ami Neiberger-Miller, 202.588.8277, ami@taps.org
ABOUT TAPS: Founded by a military widow in 1994, TAPS is the leading national organization providing compassionate care to the families of America’s fallen military heroes. TAPS welcomes anyone grieving the death of someone who served in the military, regardless of where they died, or how they died. TAPS has offered support to more than 35,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and caregivers assisting them. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, seminars for adults, good grief camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. For more information go to www.taps.org or call 800.959.TAPS (8277).
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