Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)

08/14/2026

We honor and remember the life of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, who tragically died on August 12th when an Apache helicopter crashed outside of Fort Hood. Our hearts are with their family, friends, and fellow service members, today and always.

If you have lost a military or veteran loved one and need support, please reach out to TAPS at 800-959-TAPS (8277). We are here for you.

08/14/2026

This weekend, TAPS is in San Antonio for the National Military Su***de Loss Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp.

Grief after su***de loss carries things that are hard to name and even harder to carry alone. The questions without answers. The emotions that don’t fit neatly into words. The feeling that nobody could possibly understand.

Our staff, peer mentors, and volunteers are here this weekend to say: we understand. You don’t have to explain yourself here.

Whether you are a survivor joining us for the first time or returning for another year, we are glad you are here. And if you couldn’t make it this weekend, know that TAPS is always here for you.

We are here for you 24/7 at our helpline at 800-959-8277. 💙

To learn more about TAPS su***de prevention and postvention resources, comment “Postvention” and we will send you a link.

***dePrevention

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

TAPS President and Founder Bonnie Carroll received the 2026 Advocate of the Year Award from the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, the highest honor NASDVA bestows. 🏆🇺🇸

For more than 30 years, Bonnie has shown up for military surviving families in their greatest moments of need. She founded TAPS in 1994 after losing her own husband, and has spent every year since ensuring that no surviving military family has to grieve alone.

Past recipients of this award include the sponsors of the Montgomery G.I. Bill and the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Today, it belongs to Bonnie.

In her own words: “We cannot undo the pain of losing a military loved one. But through partnership and community, we can give each other strength and hope.”

This honor is a reflection of the countless lives Bonnie and TAPS have changed. 💙

08/11/2026

“My remarriage did not erase 20 years of military service. It did not erase the day my sons lost their father. It simply means that healing has become part of my story too.”

When Lt. Col. Matt Kincade was killed in a training accident in 2019, his wife Gina became a widow overnight. She raised their sons, honored Matt’s memory, and eventually found love again.

Then she learned what that would cost her.
Under current law, surviving spouses lose the benefits their loved one earned through military service if they remarry before age 55. Benefits paid into. Benefits earned. Gone.

The Love Lives On Act would change that. It is included in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act currently before Congress.

Gina’s story is not unique. It is the reality for thousands of military surviving spouses right now.

Comment “Advocate” below and we will send you the full blog post and a link to sign up for advocacy week in September.

08/10/2026

Join us tomorrow for a TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing webinar ⬇️

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀: 𝗔 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳.

In this workshop, we create space for families navigating loss and the unique challenges that come with that experience. Parents will learn practical, engaging tools to help their children move through grief in a way that feels safe, supported, and authentic.

Drawing on decades of experience working with youth from national sports organizations, military families, youth in detention centers, and outdoor leadership programs, Jesse Tubb uses play, movement, and meaningful metaphors to teach resilience skills. These include emotional regulation, self-awareness, and healthy communication, giving kids the language and tools to express their experience.

This workshop helps families shift toward a team mindset where each person’s grief is honored, no one has to carry it alone, and connection becomes the foundation for healing at their own pace.

🗓️ August 11 at 12 p.m. ET
Register through the link in comments ⬇️

08/07/2026

Military Widows Could Keep Survivor Benefits After Remarriage Under New Bill
Currently, the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), totaling about $1,700 per month, ends as soon as a surviving military spouse remarries.
Read: https://www.military.com/military-widows-could-keep-survivor-benefits-after-remarriage-under-new-bill

08/07/2026

Behind every Purple Heart is a story of service, and a family living with a depth of pride and quiet loss that few truly see.

On National Purple Heart Day, we honor every service member and veteran wounded in action. We also stand beside the families carrying the heavy space left by those who gave their lives.

To our TAPS family whose loved ones were awarded the Purple Heart: the world may pause today, but we know you carry this every single day. We see you today and always.

Drop their name in the comments so we can hold their memory with you today. 💜

08/03/2026

The world keeps moving after the death of a child.

The birthdays still come. The years still pass. And every single one of them, you know exactly how old they’d be, what they’d look like, what they’d be doing, the life that should have kept unfolding.

That quiet heartbreak doesn’t have an expiration date.

If you are a grieving parent carrying this, you are not alone. We see you, and TAPS is here for every hard day. 💙

Comment “Parenthood” below and we will send you an article that might give you comfort if you are grieving the death of a child.