Left : Bonnie Carroll , founder and president of TAPS , with Beverley Bosselmann , chair of the Potomac Hunt Race , awarding Jaidyn Shore , one of the Pony Race winners with her trophy in memory of Kirk Bosselmann . |
upon us , the surviving families — the living legacies — to help each other heal and find a way forward . Grief is not a mental illness , it isn ’ t something you can take a pill for or see a clinician . We grieve because we love . Grief is tied to love and that love lives on when our person is no longer with us ,” assures Bonnie . “ As we move through the pain of the grief we can then come to a point of focusing on giving meaning and purpose to the life and the |
home . “ He knew . Kirk wanted to travel the world so I figured after Iraq he ’ d do that , and that ’ s what he meant . And then he said , ‘ No , Mom ... I ’ m not going to be coming back ,’” Beverley says through tears . How do you know that , she asked . Kirk replied , “ I just do .” Five days before that race she dreamt about Kirk . It was a lucid dream where he had died . Upon awakening , Beverley told her husband the dream but did not tell Kirk that she had that same feeling , because “ I didn ’ t want him going to war with the knowledge that I it knew , too . I wanted to have hope that he would come home .” On June 21 , 2004 he deployed to Iraq . Marine Corporal Kirk J . Bosselmann was killed by a sniper on November 27 , 2004 , in the Battle of Fallujah . |
|||
|
care , resources and support . And that is a lifetime commitment .”
When her husband Tom died unexpectedly and tragically , Bonnie assumed there were additional resources available beyond what the government respectfully provided . When she realized that there was a
|
service of those we love .” Memories are challenging , especially on race day . It was at the Hunt races , when Kirk was on leave from the Marines and would be deploying to Iraq soon , that he told his mother he wouldn ’ t be coming |
“ And that ’ s what Beverley has done so beautifully — incorporating Kirk ’ s passion for the races by creating a charitable component , where from these races and from Kirk , TAPS can continue to benefit every family in America grieving a loss .” |
|||
gap in services for grieving families she determined to change that . |
TAPS : 2022 by the numbers • www . taps . org |
||||
“ The military does a beautiful job of rendering final honors , providing a final resting place , and administering benefits to those who are eligible , but then it becomes incumbent |
17,867
24 / 7 Helpline Calls
|
$ 215 Million +
Education Benefits
|
1000 +
Events Hosted
|
8,849
New Survivor Connections
|
|