Reston, VA – During February, Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation (Fallen Patriots) is celebrating eternal love. When a soldier sacrifices their life, he/or she is doing it for the love of their country. Fallen Patriots embraces “the month of love,” as an opportunity to show their distinct appreciation for all those who have served our country and their surviving families. While Valentine’s Day is a time to honor our fallen heroes by spreading love, Fallen Patriots keeps families of the fallen in their thoughts every day.
It is with immense love that scholars are led and inspired, often, by their surviving moms. Over 97% of those killed in action are men, leaving mothers, who earn on average less than $50,000 per year, with the financial responsibilities of raising a family. While there are many struggles after a fallen loved one passes, families are comforted knowing there are so many people and organizations like Children of Fallen Patriots who want to help.
Surviving mom, Laura Youngblood, first heard about Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation from a friend and was more than relieved to learn the group wanted to help cover the costs for both her children to attend college.
Laura Youngblood knows all too well the meaning of sacrifice in the name of love. It was love at first sight when Travis and Laura Youngblood met while both serving as combat medics in the military. They got married a month after meeting.
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.
Today, she does everything she can to make sure her children, Hunter and Emma, know who their father was and keep his memory alive. She tells them how he signed up for the military to protect his family, friends, fellow service members and his country. On Memorial Day and his birthday each year, they spread their love by writing Travis messages on balloons and send them up to him.
“Travis and I often talked about how we wanted our children to go to college and have every opportunity than a quality education could provide them. I can’t explain what a relief it is for our entire family to know that someone is willing to help us achieve this dream,” explained Youngblood.
Although fallen soldiers are deceased, their love and passion often lives on within their surviving families. Cherished memories never fade as children of the fallen strive forward with the support of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.
About Fallen Patriots
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation honors the sacrifices of military heroes by ensuring the success of their children through college education. Since 2002, Children of Fallen Patriots has provided more than $14 million in total assistance, including college scholarships, supplemental grants and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. Nearly 20,000 children from all across America will need future assistance. Help today by visiting fallenpatriots.org.