A New Role to Play
A Navy SEAL from 2002 to 2012 transitioning from military to civilian life, I was totally lost as to what to do next with my life.
Find Inspiration Within the TAPS Magazine
TAPS Magazine is dedicated to America's fallen heroes and their surviving families and friends.
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The articles in each edition are written by military survivors, grief professionals and TAPS staff. We hope you inspiration, comfort, support, resources and a sense of belonging within these pages.
TAPS Magazine Reader Survey 2017
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Latest Magazine Articles
Purpose in connection
Lori Branch’s commitment to volunteerism runs about as deep as her Georgia roots.
Dare to Share
Telling our story, whether to educate, vent or simply recall the memory of our loved one, can make us vulnerable. We run the risk of being deeply hurt.
App Review: My Good Grief Journal for Kids
My Good Grief Journal for Kids provides opportunities for expressing grief and opening these difficult conversations between children and adults.
Book Review: The Four Agreements
Spiritual teacher Miguel Ruiz promotes healing and transformation through ancient wisdom of the Toltec culture, a people native to Central America.
Beyond the Burst of Support
It’s common for friends and family to reach out in a burst of support in a time of crisis. But then, things go back to “normal” for them.
Choosing Joy
I realized I needed to honor my son’s life. He was part of a historic elite – men and women who embody sacrifice, loyalty and service to country.
A Stillness Among the Trees
The loss of Jack, and the life he lived, has shaped who I am today, and it continues to shape who I will be.
Extraordinary Lives, Many Thanks
On the eighth anniversary of Mark’s death, Afghan Ambassador to the United States invited TAPS surviving families to attend a dinner at the embassy.
Losing Myself, After Losing John: The Fight to Find My Inner Warrior
Grief is one of the most difficult things we can endure. And If we allow it, grief can become all-consuming and even self-destructive.
The Journey Home
Mentoring other children who wear the red shirt I once wore and who fill the places I once filled is one of the greatest honors I have ever experienced.
Strong Footing Again
When we are overcome with sadness or grief, it can be difficult to continue the daily climb. How do we move through the grief?
The News That Changes Everything
In the throes of what feels like eternal darkness, it can feel so lonely. But it’s comforting to know the love will remain too.
Peace and Purpose
Knowing we are part of a family – albeit one we never wanted to join, but one we are so glad exists – is the foundation of our ability to find purpose.
Rich in love and food: Pozole Verde
Christian grew up surrounded by a family rich in both love and food. His grandfather learned to prepare traditional dishes, Pozole became a family tradition.
Showing up for Yourself
Just as the demands of grief call us to “show up” when we’d rather not, the tasks of life call us in a similar way.
You Deserve to Heal
You deserve to live and love fully again. You deserve to experience meaning for the rest of your days.
Finding My Whole Self in the Brokenness
In my own life and in the lives of the families that I have met through TAPS, I see a similar thing. I see new beauty rebuilt out of ruins.
Grade Schoolers and Military Loss
Military families know resilience. But, for grade schoolers, when a loved one is lost in the military, there is an incredible amount of trauma.