MOTHER'S DAY
May 8, 2016
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation celebrates Mother's Day, a time to pay respect to the spouses and families of the fallen. Over 97% of those killed in action are men, leaving mothers with the financial responsibilities of raising a family. While there are many struggles for single mothers, they find comfort in knowing there are organizations like Fallen Patriots who want to help.
Approximately 63% of surviving wives earn less than $60k a year. By providing scholarships to children of the fallen, Fallen Patriots honors the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our country.
Laura Youngblood knows all too well the true meaning of sacrifice. Both Laura and her husband, Travis, served in the military as combat medics where they met. It was love at first sight and they got married a month later.
When Laura was called up for active duty a few years later, they had a little boy, Hunter. Travis wanted her to be able to stay home with Hunter and eventually return to school, so he volunteered to take her place.
During that deployment to the Al Anbar Province of Iraq in 2005, his unit was hit by an IED. Despite his severe injuries, he asked the medics on the field to help his fellow Marines first, and come back for him later. He said he felt like it was his responsibility to save them first. Six days later, he died.
Laura knew that he was gone before anyone even knocked on her door. She woke up in the middle of the night, knowing something was wrong. At the time, she was 8 months pregnant with their daughter Emma.
Today, she does everything she can to make sure her children, Hunter and Emma, know who their father was.
Fallen Patriots asks every citizen to remember and say thanks to those GI members for their invaluable act of bravery in protecting and serving our country. Please consider donating to Fallen Patriots mission, while helping surviving mothers with the financial responsibilities of raising a family.