TAPS Survivor Seminar: Trevor's Impressions

Our co-founders, Trevor Romain and Ronda Englander were fortunate enough to be invited to attend the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (T.A.P.S.) Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp at Ft. Hood this past Friday. Below are Trevor's impressions from the event:

“I’m here to honor my two sons,” said the man. “My eldest son was killed in action in Iraq by an IED. My younger son, who is also in the military, escorted his body home. For some reason he felt the need to go back and was deployed in Afghanistan…where… a few month later he took his own life. I lost both my boys.”

I’m here to recognize my husband, he was killed in Afghanistan two weeks before he was retiring. He died while saving a young marine.”

“My wife died days before our only son graduated. We miss her so much, every day.”

There were over two hundred stories like this that started off our day yesterday. ( I shared the experience with my dear friend Ronda Englander, who lost her dad in Vietnam. She is the Executive Director of our non profit organization The Comfort Crew For Military Kids and the amazing Jackie Green, from the USO, was also there with us).

The event was at Ft. Hood. And after hearing these powerful, heartrending stories I was invited to speak to the kids and the wives, husbands and parents of fallen soldiers during the Good Grief Camp hosted by TAPS.

TAPS is the 24/7 tragedy assistance resource for ANYONE who has suffered the loss of a military loved one, regardless of the relationship to the deceased or the circumstance of the death.

During the day I presented grief workshops to kids who have lost a parent, many by IED’s in Iraq and Afghanistan and way too many by suicide. I also gave a workshop to surviving spouses and parents of fallen soldiers.

Later at the TAPS dinner gala, I had the honor and privilege of giving the keynote address to over 400 people who have lost sons and daughters or moms and dads and family members while serving in the US military. I was humbled to have the honor to speak to this awe-inspiring group of people. I am truly blessed to have been chosen to work with them all. May God bless the fallen soldiers and their families who are part of only one percent of our population who have dedicated their lives, and paid the ultimate sacrifice, to ensure the freedom of the other 99 percent.

My life has changed since yesterday,

I am humbled, proud and overwhelmed to be chosen to work with TAPS, The USO and The Comfort Crew for Military Kids.

~ Trevor Romain