As the nation observes Memorial Day by honoring those who died in service, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) demonstrates their unwavering commitment to connection, hope, and remembrance after loss.
Bonnie Carroll founded TAPS in 1994 after the loss of her husband, Brigadier General Tom Carroll, who was killed along with seven other soldiers in 1992 when their Army National Guard plane crashed in the mountains of Alaska. Carroll took her personal loss and created a national lifelong community for those who have lost a loved one in service to our great nation.
Since its founding, TAPS has provided care and support to more than 120,000 bereaved military survivors. In 2024 alone, 8,911 newly bereaved military and veteran survivors connected to TAPS for care and services—an average of 24 new survivors contacting TAPS every day.
“I first met Bonnie Carroll many years ago when I observed a TAPS event,” said Daniel Shuchman, a prominent supporter of TAPS and other veteran and military organizations. “I was immediately struck by the team’s dedication and the positive impact of TAPS’ programs on military families. TAPS honors our fallen heroes by supporting their survivors and helping them persevere and thrive. It is a wonderful example of a private nonprofit fulfilling a mission that government is unable or unwilling to.”
This Memorial Day, TAPS will host its 31st joint National Military Survivor Seminar for adults and Good Grief Camp for young survivors. Over the last three decades this seminar has evolved to meet the changing needs of military survivor families and has grown into a community gathering with guests of all ages where survivors can find solace in shared experiences. This foundation of honesty and community continues to drive its evolution.
National Military Seminar and Good Grief Camp Grows Connection
The National Seminar is a comprehensive, trauma-informed program offering a full spectrum of support: workshops, grief counseling, peer groups, and wellness activities. TAPS provides tailored tracks for those navigating unique grief following various types of loss, including suicide, illness, combat, and accidents.
With support to include young adults, siblings, battle buddies, and close friends, TAPS recognizes that grief impacts everyone connected to those lost. They also address the complexities of grief, particularly after suicide and non-combat deaths, providing a safe space for healing.
Remarkably, even with its growth, the Seminar retains its intimacy. Every survivor is seen, heard, and embraced as part of the TAPS family. They believe that healing arises from human connection, compassion, and the promise that no one grieves alone.
Each year, the National Seminar becomes a powerful catalyst for healing and connection. Within this compassionate community, survivors share stories of transformation—moments that may appear small to the outside world but carry immense significance for those navigating profound grief. A young adult, hesitant to speak of their loved one for years, may finally find the courage to say their name aloud in a group that truly understands. A surviving spouse might discover a lifelong friendship. These quiet milestones, once thought impossible under the weight of loss, become extraordinary breakthroughs made possible by the support and understanding found at the Seminar.
Good Grief Camp Offers Healing and Connection
Good Grief Camp provides age-appropriate care and support for children and young adults from birth through age 18, meeting each child where they are and providing comfort and hope. Children who arrive timid and heartbroken often leave with newfound confidence and the support of their “legacy mentors.” For young adults, TAPS offers workshops on navigating grief alongside life transitions. Extended family members find tailored support sessions.
The power of peer support in the healing journey is beautifully reflected in the story of Kyler Nelson and Mikayla Wiener, who both experienced the devastating loss of their fathers. In 2012, they met at Snowball Express, the annual winter experience for surviving families hosted by TAPS Honorary Board Member Gary Sinise and his foundation. Amid hundreds of grieving children, Kyler and Mikayla found in each other a rare and vital connection—a peer who truly understood the pain of losing a parent in service to our nation.
Over the years, their bond deepened, eventually growing into a long-distance relationship between Kentucky and New York. That connection proved unshakable. Mikayla later moved to Kentucky for college, and in time, they were married—honoring their fathers in a heartfelt tribute to the very men whose sacrifice had brought them together. Their story—born of shared grief and nurtured by understanding—demonstrates the profound, lifelong healing that can begin when survivors are embraced by a compassionate community that truly understands. It is this spirit of connection that lies at the heart of the TAPS mission.
Attending The Seminar
During the National Seminar and Good Grief Camp, adults and children participate in separate, thoughtfully curated programs held at nearby hotels. While children and teens are supported through age-specific grief activities, parents and guardians engage in their own workshops and peer support sessions—always nearby, connected, and part of the healing process. Families also come together during special times throughout the weekend, including evening events designed to foster connection and shared remembrance.
When survivors register, they share the story of their loss. TAPS uses this information to match them with peer groups led by others who have experienced a similar type of loss, ensuring that each participant is surrounded by those who truly understand.
Each day is purposefully designed to support healing, connection, and resilience. Mornings often begin with optional wellness activities such as mindfulness, yoga, or remembrance walks. The community then gathers for keynote sessions led by grief experts, military leaders, mental health professionals, and fellow survivors who share messages of comfort, strength, and hope.
Throughout the day, attendees select from a wide range of workshops and peer support groups tailored to their relationship with their loved one and the circumstances of the loss. These sessions provide practical tools for coping, opportunities to build lasting connections, and safe spaces to honor the unique paths of grief and growth.
Evenings are dedicated to building community—through shared meals, ceremonies, and informal gatherings that remind every participant they are not alone. Within this compassionate and understanding environment, survivors find not only support, but also the strength to take meaningful steps forward.
The National Seminar is open to all those grieving the loss of a military loved one, regardless of the circumstance of death, their relationship to the deceased, or their branch of service. TAPS hosts programming, workshops, meals, and childcare during Good Grief Camp to make this important program accessible to all who need it. Attendees are responsible for travel and lodging, and TAPS offers flight assistance to those in need.
TAPS also offers Regional Survivor Seminars and retreats across the country, providing similar support closer to home, along with TAPS Togethers, Care Groups, and around-the-clock assistance through a 24/7 helpline. Each year, they hold hundreds of events across America, connecting families and fostering healing.
The National Seminar, and all of TAPS’s programs, are made possible through the generosity of donors, sponsors, and foundations. TAPS also receives support from military-affiliated organizations and grants.
TAPS is deeply grateful for the generous support it receives from individuals, corporate sponsors, foundations, grantmakers, and military-affiliated organizations. Their work is strengthened by close collaboration with the U.S. military, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and a wide network of strategic partners who share our commitment to supporting the families of America’s fallen heroes. TAPS also has thousands of dedicated volunteers whose time, compassion, and presence make a lasting difference in the lives of survivors.
The National Seminar is a lifeline, a place where grief is met with understanding, where hope is nurtured, and where survivors begin to build a future of meaning and purpose. It demonstrates the enduring spirit of our military families and the unwavering commitment of the TAPS community.
To learn more about the TAPS or the National Seminar, contact Portfolio Director Clarice Smith.
