Video: 2025 TAPS Military Mentor of the Year Award Recipient

Each year at the TAPS Honor Guard Gala, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) honors an extraordinary U.S. service member or veteran who goes beyond the call of duty, volunteering their time to support children and teens grieving a military-connected loss. This year, TAPS proudly presented Army Veteran Staff Sergeant Jay Hufford as the 2025 recipient of the Military Mentor of the Year. Chosen from a dedicated group of over 700 volunteer Military Mentors, SSG Hufford’s commitment to surviving children is evident through his ongoing participation in TAPS events, like national and regional TAPS seminars and camps, and his lasting positive impact on each child he mentors.

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