Contributions for 2017

Think about treating yourself post-holiday season, explore activities that might be a help to comfort yourself.

Surrounded by gaiety, a broken heart can feel more alone and isolated than ever. No one wants to hurt for the holidays, but some of us do.

After the loss of a loved one, many find it hard to observe holidays. Read articles that discuss reaching for the light through the darkness at this time of year.

TAPS shares tips that can help us seek the good, even when we aren’t sure we will have joy again any time soon.

The holidays will never be the same after the death of a loved one, but there are things you can do to make them a little more bearable for both you and your child.

We love to look on as other people take photos, stand and salute, say a prayer, dry a few tears and find their own loved one pictured on an ornament.

TAPS offers 8 tips to help you be present for those who are grieving the death of a loved one this holiday season.

Save a place at the table and in your heart for your loved one this holiday season.

Music can keep us connected to the memories of our loved one. Make a playlist of songs your loved one enjoyed, and consider sharing it with family and friends.

The new TRICARE changes, which are rolling out in 2018, may impact many eligible military survivors’ health insurance plans.

Finding a balance between honoring old traditions and developing new ones can help reignite your holiday spirit.

Event Photos: TAPS participates in wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and across the country.

Survivors share how they manage grief after experiencing the death of multiple loved ones.

When we are struggling with our grief, Hanukkah is a reminder that we can find hope by searching for the light with help from our loved ones.

Event Photos: 2017 TAPS Volunteers

Grief is a long journey that can often appear lonely. Sometimes, we need to stop, take notice of what’s around us and find comfort in the companionship.

While the memories can and do bring pain, they’re matched by the purest sense of joy as I think about our happiest moments together.

The greatest gift to Pete, a TAPS Military Mentor, is the children he gets to mentor as they grow and heal through TAPS.

There are gifts we must give ourselves after we’ve faced a loss: time and space to grieve and the support from others.

As a charity partners of the NFL, TAPS benefits from the proceeds of auctions for official NFL items, Super Bowl Packages and signed and game-used items.

TAPS welcomed country music star Shane Owens to our West Coast program event in San Diego in early December.

TAPS was honored to participate in the Annual “Land of the Free Veterans Day Golf Classic” in City of Industry, California.

Hospice chaplain Gary Roe’s book offers readers ways to cope by sharing insights he has gained during his own grief journey.

Ceremonies can help people who feel stuck in their grief get unstuck and provides them with continued momentum toward healing.

Volume 23, Issue 4

For the second year in a row, TAPS families in the Colorado Springs area were able to attend an evening of cheer and holiday spirit thanks to generous supporters.

It is important to practice self-care, especially during the holidays, when you're grieving the loss of a loved one.

Gifts don’t always come in the form of a pretty box wrapped with shiny paper and a bow; they sometimes come in ways that are invisible to the eyes.

As we trust our grief to take us where we need to go, our hearts and our minds will start to heal along the way.

Survivors share tips for talking to their employers about grief after the loss of a loved one.

Event Photos: TAPS survivors gather in San Diego.

TAPS hopes this partnership will allow us to advocate for surviving military families and raise awareness to reduce the number of victims of toxic exposure.

This week survivors shared the many different ways they honor their loved ones.

“Last Flag Flying” shows the audience that military brotherhood is forever, extending long past one’s service and even past death.

Layering real war footage with heartfelt interviews with soldiers and Gold Star family members, “No Greater Love” strives to promote healing.

Starting November 20, TAPS invites you to participate in the Amazon #SeasonOfSmiles social media campaign by sharing your best TAPS stories.

Get ready now for the Giving Tuesday November 28 match opportunity. Share your fundraisers and the official TAPS fundraiser link early and often!

Share why you support TAPS and why others should give to TAPS, too. Help TAPS win up to $10,000 this #GivingTuesday for families of the fallen.

A Gold Star Child's Dear Santa List: Macbook, guitar & Daddy. TAPS helps a surviving military family in Puerto Rico affected by the hurricane​s​.

We can find comfort in our grief when we prepare the foods that have been a tradition in our families.

TAPS showed me that I wasn’t alone. Through TAPS, I found a way to stay connected with Paul’s life and his military service.

TAPS is proud to work with partners to provide cutting edge support and care to our youngest survivors who are grieving the loss of a loved one in military service.

TAPS was recently presented a check by Jim Koons Automotive based on the number of three-pointers made by the Washington Wizards.

Since Memorial Day, traditional Country singer, Shane Owens has been donating 100% of the net proceeds from the tribute song “19" to TAPS.

You can look up the definition of grief and read it over and over again, but until you go through it you’ll never fully understand.

The grief she felt over the death of her ex-husband was palpable, but others didn’t understand how she could be grieving. But it was there, and it was real.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is on Saturday, November 18, 2017 and is intended to be a day of healing throughout the world.

Over 200 TAPS families and their heroes were honored during the Atlanta Falcons game on November 12 as part of the NFL’s Salute to Service.

Over 400 family members who lost loved ones during their service to the nation attended Salute to Service activities over the Veterans Day weekend.

For those dealing with grief, the winter holidays can add stress to an already difficult time, but there are many ways to cope.

TAPS is pleased to announce that it has been honored with a prestigious 2017 Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits.

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Event Photos: TAPS women survivors build connections together in Normandy France and London England.

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TAPS survivors share how TAPS has made a difference in their grief journey.

TAPS families come together to recognize to honor and remember their fallen hero during the NFL Salute to Service.

Team TAPS runners honor the life and legacy of our fallen heroes running this weekend in the TCS New York City Marathon.

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The annual CFC campaign makes it easy to Show Some Love to the causes they care about most. For many that cause is TAPS!

Event Photos: TAPS parent survivors fly in hot air balloons together in New Mexico!

Volume 23, Issue 3

Volume 23, Issue 3

Connecting to others who are grieving the loss of a fallen hero through TAPS can make the grief journey a little easier.

TAPS encourages each person to exercise judgment with regard to seeing this movie.

Event Photos: TAPS remembers our fallen heroes together with our United Kingdom families who have lost a military loved one.

Child loss is a loss like no other. One often misunderstood by many. Here is what I’ve learned in my seven years of trekking through the unimaginable.

TAPS welcomed more than 600 family members grieving the death of a military loved one in Phoenix.

teams4taps and CBS Sports paid tribute to United States Naval Academy graduate and fallen U.S. Navy SEAL, LCDR Erik S. Kristensen

Over 300 runners trained for months to run the Marine Corps Marathon and 10K for Team TAPS on October 22.

Event Photos: TAPS women survivors participate in TAPS Empowerment program in North Carolina

Event Photos: Team TAPS participates in the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon.

Event Photos: TAPS teens build resiliency, friendships and community at the TAPS Teen Adventure at Outward Bound.

Survivors share what their favorite activities are when they attend TAPS events.

Embrace the changing of the seasons, starting with some easy fall-themed meals.

Military families know resilience. But, for grade schoolers, when a loved one is lost in the military, there is an incredible amount of trauma.

My Good Grief Journal for Kids provides opportunities for expressing grief and opening these difficult conversations between children and adults.

When we are overcome with sadness or grief, it can be difficult to continue the daily climb. How do we move through the grief?

You deserve to live and love fully again. You deserve to experience meaning for the rest of your days.

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.

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.

Oshkosh Defense has generously supported TAPS programs and ​is a leading supporter of ​the TAPS Honor Guard Gala.

Lori Branch’s commitment to volunteerism runs about as deep as her Georgia roots.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spiritual teacher Miguel Ruiz promotes healing and transformation through ancient wisdom of the Toltec culture, a people native to Central America.

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.

The loss of Jack, and the life he lived, has shaped who I am today, and it continues to shape who I will be.

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.

Sharing memories of our loved ones can be healing and also introduces our loved ones to readers of the Saturday Morning Message.

CBS Sports helped teams4taps honor the life and legacy of Army Black Knights quarterback and fallen U.S. Army Ranger, 1LT Chase Prasnicki.

As the family of Sgt. Nick Pansini told the story of his suicide in 2010, the reason for TAPS became crystal clear: We care!

When someone dies in the military, TAPS is there to care for everyone who is grieving, forever, with resources and support.

Event Photos: Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, Phoenix, Arizona

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After the initial pain of grief has lessened, many find that undertaking a new hobby or pastime can offer comfort.

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I never heard my father’s voice. There were photographs of him, and I know his handwriting from letters he wrote to my mother. But I always wondered how he sounded.

Survivors offer advice and encouraging words to fellow survivors who are new to TAPS.

We can be the best versions of the worst-case scenarios — embodying bravery, endurance and an unwillingness to let the death be the story.

It's important to provide children with natural, healthy outlets for a range of emotion and chances to move their bodies and release energy.

As men, we tend to be the fixers, the doers, the listeners. We like to fix things. But what happens when we are the very thing that is broken into pieces?

Mindfulness is all the rage these days — and not without reason. It benefits our minds, bodies and spirits.

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National Gold Star Mother’s Day, also known as National Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, is observed annually on the last Sunday in September.

The warmth of a friendship can be so healing and comforting during the grief journey.

The VA is undertaking a vast strategic transformation in how it delivers mental health care to veterans.

Event Photos: 2017 TAPS Togethers

After my husband died, I felt like there was no hope. Then I found gardening, and it became a source of healing in my grief journey.

Event Photos: Widow survivors learn a new skill in rowing and experience the power of working together.

Peer mentors have the opportunity to be companions, to listen with our hearts. I hope you choose to see your heart opening to people experiencing grief.

No one can fully understand the grief journey in the way a fellow survivor can. TAPS Peer Mentors can walk beside new survivors as a steadfast companion.

Making memorial luminaries with your children is an activity that can give kids an opportunity to creatively engage their memories of the loved one.

Your view of success may change after the loss of your loved one.

Event Photos: TAPS survivors participate in an Inner Warrior Wellness Weekend in Baltimore, Maryland

TAPS survivors who lost their loved ones to suicide offer creative coping skills to help with your grief.

Event Photos: TAPS men survivors foster brotherhood together in Yellowstone National Park.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, we have come a long way, and I have watched as bereaved families have once again found hope.

I was honored to spend 10 years with 9/11 firefighter families, taking the grief journey with them. The reality is that these families have not forgotten.

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Is it easier to stick to a routine or change the daily tasks you do after the death of a loved one?

Event Photos: Adult Survivors participate in rigorous adventure climb at Mount Shasta.

For everyone who has endured nature's worst effects, your TAPS Family is here if you need to speak to someone for extra support and care.

Where would you travel if you could choose one place and money were not a problem?

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TAPS Togethers, one-day events in communities across the country, bring surviving military families together in relaxed, casual settings.

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There are some basic truths that would have helped me navigate those first few months as a military widow with a bit more grace and confidence.

One of the most painful parts of grief is facing a string of tomorrows without your loved one, but memories can still be created with your fallen hero.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in our TAPS family who is affected by the historic flooding in Texas as a result of Hurricane Harvey.

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Survivors share what ideas for how to store your loved one's paperwork.

Event Photos: TAPS parent survivors swim with whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium!

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TAPS survivors share how they cope with the stress that comes with grief.

Event Photos: TAPS survivors focus on their health and wellness together in San Diego

Event Photos: Adult Survivors trek the ancient city of Machu Picchu

Event Photos: TAPS women survivors build connections with other survivors in Washington.

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Sharing special memories about your loved one can be helpful for you, and it also allows others to get to know your cherished person.

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Collecting items that are meaningful to you or your loved one can be helpful in the healing process.

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How could anyone think that posting a photo of my brother’s headstone on social media is not OK? That I’m somehow stuck in my grief?

Event Photos: TAPS survivors focus on their health and wellness together in St. Louis

It’s a good practice to sit down and write out everything you can remember about your loved one. Here’s why.

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Grief can be isolating and lonely. But activities can help with your grief and create ways to show others that it's OK to share memories of your loved one.

Authors Brook Noel and Pamela D. Blair, Ph.D., used their experiences to write a book that can resonate with anyone grieving the loss of a loved one.

To honor my son, our family wanted to have at least 41 random acts of kindness completed to celebrate a life well lived.

A TAPS Peer Mentor stepped in during a time of need for a surviving mother running the New York City Half Marathon to honor her son.

Event Photos: Adult Survivors kayak the San Juan Islands.

As I testified before Congress advocating on a bill to expand GI Bill benefits, all I could think about was how much my mom would have enjoyed being there.

Survivors share what they enjoy most about attending TAPS Seminars.

Summer, with its long days of light and warmth, is also a great time to stretch yourself emotionally and physically.

Event Photos: TAPS women survivors connect with other survivors in Milwaukee

Survivors share special objects they carry with them that is meaningful and helps when times are rough.

Event Photos: Adult and Youth Survivors come together in fellowship in Austin, Texas.

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These books invite readers to discuss their own thoughts and feelings about loss as well as consider ways they can honor their loved ones who died.

Since Army Capt. Joe Quenga began volunteering with TAPS in May 2016, he has recorded nearly 130 hours during 11 events.

Dedicated and selfless TAPS volunteers spent a combined 17,142 hours over Memorial Day weekend, ensuring our families receive the healing support they need.

After my brother Sam died, I felt myself in need of a GPS. I felt completely lost in a world where others just seemed to zoom by so fast.

Summer 2013 will always be a reminder of the plans I had that were erased in an instant and the new normal of my life now.

It's been 10 years since my husband Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer 2 Miles Henderson died in Iraq, but it can still take my breath away.

Living in emotional pain is a lot like bad weather. There is no control, no predicting when the clouds will come or when the rain will start.

The goal with the Unstuck Approach is to learn to understand and help ourselves, so we can overcome feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

When we lose someone we love, it’s easy to lose hope. We can see the darkest parts of grief. But there is hope. There is help. There is healing.

Rebuilding a family after a suicide can be a challenging endeavor, but it is possible to create a foundation that leads to hope, healing and understanding.

Simply put, transitioning from passive mourning to active remembering is key to building resilience after loss.

Taking steps, literally and figuratively, in the direction of honoring my brothers helped me to learn to live and find joy again.

Survivors share their favorite memories from the Fourth of July.

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There is a small group of Americans who have a special stake in this country because their family's blood has been shed to make American safe.

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TAPS is welcoming our recent graduates to college with a free education care package.

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Online tools can be a helpful resource as we grieve the loss of our loved ones.

Volume 23, Issue 2

Event Photos: TAPS widow survivors participate challenging adventure in Germany

Event Photos: TAPS children participate in TAPS Good Grief Campout in Southern California

Volunteering can be a healing process while also giving back to others.

Event Photos and Story of 2017 Colorado Celebrity Classic by Lisa Perry

Event Photos by Dave Gill Photography

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TAPS survivors participated in a variety of Memorial Day events across the weekend to honor their fallen heroes.

Event Photos: Adult Survivors raft the rapids in the Dinosaur National Monument, Utah.

Event Photos: Got Your 6 led 6/6 Day of Service Project helping beautify the grounds of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C

Survivors honored their loved ones in unique and personal ways on Memorial Day.

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On Memorial Day, military survivors can be found at many different events that honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.

Here are some ways you can get involved and honor all those who have served and died in addition to enjoying summer’s unofficial start.

Get involved in a Memorial Day event this year. Honor our fallen service members.

It's important to practice self care during Memorial Day weekend.

My dad, Army Col. John McHugh, ran this path before me. His blistered feet and tired body pounded this same Nebraska pavement 16 years before mine had.

TAPS was born around a kitchen table, when families grieving a military tragedy came together to comfort each other knowing they weren’t alone.

I’ve learned that surviving a grief that seems unfathomable is best done with other men with the courage to face their own brokenness.

Although TAPS didn’t make our grief go away, it continues to help us along in this journey.

The informal practice of loving kindness meditation can be as simple as looking someone in the eye and silently wishing them “may you be happy.”

When his Iraqi interpreter’s move to the U.S. finally started to become a reality, Ed decided he would be the trusted voice in a strange land.

Of all the holidays I thought would be hard, Mother's Day was not at the top of my list. After all, it was about me, not my late husband, and how could that be hard?

TAPS Magazine articles, “Boxes in the Attic” and “Boxes in the Attic: Part Two,” give ideas about how we care for our loved one’s belongings.

Event Photos: Military Appreciation Event with Vice President Pence, Mrs. Pence and Ivanka Trump

Children who experience the loss of a parent or other family member through a military line-of-duty death are likely to face a number of unique issues.

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When I was young, many people would talk about who they were named after and why. This has always been one of my favorite conversations.

Event Photos: TAPS widow survivors bond together on beautiful South Carolina beaches and participate in a variety of activities.

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I live by a relatively large river. It’s one place I like to go to think about questions like the change of ideas after the death of a loved one.

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TAPS can connect survivors to grief resources close to home. Upon request, TAPS can provide a detailed report of support groups in your community.

In every season, there are challenges and hardships, but it's important to keep ourselves open to those moments when we can experience joy and growth.

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Sharing your space with a pet can be very rewarding. Just having your pet cuddle up next to you when you are feeling down can be uplifting.

Everyone in the TAPS family has heard a 21 gun salute. They have all been handed a folded flag.

Survivors learn to keep alive the memories of their loved ones by sharing stories of loss and hope. They become living legacies who honor their fallen heroes.

Event Photos: TAPS parent survivors bond together in Philadelphia.

This week survivors share ideas in response to the question about what survivors do on special days like birthdays and angelversaries.

In addition to TAPS Youth Programs events, there are a variety of events that are available to surviving military children throughout the year.

Here are some ideas for how to honor your surviving military children during Month of the Military Child (and every month).

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When a sibling dies, we lose our first friend. But the relationship still exists.

The 2017 TAPS Honor Guard Gala, held on April 12 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Event Photos: TAPS supporters join together in supporting the families of our fallen military members.

Two articles from the TAPS Magazine archives give some good advice on how to give your body needed nutrients when you're experiencing grief.

Event Photos: Adult Survivors backpack the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

The photos today show how much each of these outstanding young people were loved and how much they are missed

Event Photos: Adult and Youth Survivors come together in fellowship in Colorado.

Just hold my hand and let me cry, and say, 'My friend, I care.' Excerpt form "Don’t Tell Me That You Understand," written by Joanetta Hendel

Event Photos: Adult Survivors go kayaking on the sea in South Carolina.

Staff Sergeant Daniel Davenport will be awarded the TAPS 2017 Military Mentor of the Year at annual TAPS Honor Guard Luncheon on April 12.

Volume 23, Issue 1

While military records are used to establish benefits and entitlements, they also tell the story of our heroes' military careers.

Event Photos: Team TAPS joins the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on March 19.

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The grief journey takes us to unknown places, and while we don't know all that we will encounter, we can pack some things to help us on the journey ahead.

This week, survivors share how they handle the emotional events of their lives. Finding others who had gone through the same experience can be uplifting.

Event Photos: Adult and Youth Survivors come together in fellowship in Chicago.

Event Photos: Surviving moms gather with fellow surviving moms in the beauty and serenity of Bainbridge Island.

This course is designed to help volunteers support surviving loved ones, and provide volunteers with tips and tools to support veterans at their organization.

This course discusses the importance setting personal and professional boundaries when working with different groups.

Siblings Renee and Wally decided to attend a TAPS Peer Mentor training. They didn't realize the experience would forge a deeper sibling bond.

The gifts Simon and my other mentees give me cannot be replaced. My mentees help me go on and honor my grandson's legacy.

The grief journey takes us to unknown places, and while we don't know all that we will encounter, we can pack some things to help us on the journey ahead.

The best part of attending a TAPS Seminar is seeing the smiles on these survivors’ faces as they hug each other.

The TAPS Good Grief Camp Military Mentor program is one of the most meaningful volunteer opportunities we offer at TAPS.

Women have defined so much of our world's history as leaders and pioneers. So, why wouldn't they help us define the way we grieve?

Our life is forever changed after the death of a loved one. Survivors discuss doing things that honor our loved ones as our purpose in life changes.

Event Photos: TAPS widow survivors participate challenging adventure in Alaska

Event Photos: TAPS young adult survivors bond together in Florida.

As of July 1, 2017, all recipients of the Fry Scholarship will be guaranteed in-state tuition at any public university in the country.

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Sleep can be difficult for many survivors after the death of a loved one. Today we will look at a variety of helpful ideas from survivors.

The TAPS Colorado Celebrity Classic began in 2006 when Lynne and Bo Cottrell took on the challenge of putting this unique and wonderful event together.

We can't always let ourselves grieve openly and tearfully, but when we can, it's worth it — it's important to cry to the end of your tears.

Event Photos: TAPS women survivors participate explore ways to move forward within their new normal in Arizona.

Snowflakes change ordinary places with their unusual beauty. Thanks to the survivors who sent in those special places they remember this week.

Event Photos: Tom and Sharon Chisholm host fundraiser for TAPS.

For many of us who have experienced the loss of a sweetheart, Valentine’s Day and all the related hoopla can be hard.

In today's message, survivors share how loved one's friends have honored their fallen comrades.

Bad days, thoughts of failure, the stress of coping with loss — it all goes away when I see these kids and the strength they have.

Event Photos: Adult Survivors participate in rigorous adventure climb at Mount Kilimanjaro.

The TAPS Peer Mentor program is a gift for both the mentors and the survivors who become connected.

Event Photos: TAPS sibling survivors participate challenging adventure at Lake Tahoe

Women in America and in Afghanistan grieving the death of their loved ones build a bridge between these two worlds through this bracelet project.

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This week survivors sent their heartwarming responses about how pets have helped them on their individual grief journeys.

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Nearly 200 TAPS families marched in the Inaugural Parade for the 45th President of the United States Donald Trump.

Event Photos: TAPS survivors participate in the 2017 Presidential Inaugural Parade

For many, winter is a time of contemplation about what we have accomplished in the past year and where we are going.

I know that my son would want me to live my life to the fullest and do what I love. I have started competing in agility with our dog, Sam!

Before making resolutions that involve revising our present pattern of behavior or adding something to it, we need to ask if our lives will benefit from it.