TAPS camp helps children cope with family military deaths
BOLIVAR, Tenn. — Losing loved ones is hard for anyone, especially for a child. If that loved one once served in the military, it can sometimes make dealing with the loss even harder. “TAPS is great. It’s the best thing ever,” said Keith Coe, a boy dealing with the loss of his father. TAPS, or the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, has teamed up with the Hartwell Foundation and a camp in Bolivar for “Good Grief Campout.” “TAPS is a program for children who have lost their loved ones, and TAPS basically helps them talk about who has died,” Keith said. Members of the military volunteer to become mentors. The mentors and children are from all around the county and met at Victory Ranch in Bolivar to work through the loss of loved ones while on duty. “I’m here honoring my dad,” Keith said. “He was killed in action and he was in the Army.” “The idea for this weekend is for these kids to have fun, plain and simple,” said Rusty Hensley, CEO of the Hartwell Foundation. “For them to step away from their normal life and be able to talk to other kids who have had the same loss from loved ones in the military.” “Being able to reach out to children all over the United States and being able to work on their grief and just healing — I just love it. It’s amazing,” mentor David Truax said. Victory Ranch hosted 50 children and mentors through TAPS to talk through the grieving process and participate in activities. “Not just be at camp where you deal with that issue, but you have fun,” Hensley said. “So you’ve now realized that you can move on with your life, and I think that TAPS does that for these kids.” TAPS touches the hearts of everyone involved and offers many other camps like this across the country. Children are allowed to attend any camp as many times as they want.
