Sarah C. is a Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation scholarship recipient and the daughter of U.S. Army Sergeant Thomas T. “My dad was a family man. Although I was his stepdaughter, he treated me as one of his own. He called me his daughter and he told me he loved me just as any father would.” Sergeant Turner lost his life in 2006 while on active duty; Sarah was just eight years old.
“I know he is proud of me for never giving up and for following through with my goals. I am who I am today because of what he taught me growing up.”
As a Fallen Patriots scholarship recipient, Sarah is in her fourth year studying dental hygiene at Baylor University. She was inspired to choose this major because it has always interested her, and she views it as a low-stress job with a balanced work schedule. Her goal is to get her bachelor’s degree and become a dental hygienist.
Receiving this scholarship has helped Sarah focus on school and not have to worry so much about working to pay for living expenses. It has also given her the chance to connect with others who have lost a parent in the line of duty. “Fallen Patriots has impacted me in many ways. Not only has this foundation helped me financially get through college, but I have also met many people who have gone through the same things I have.”
Although it is very difficult, Sarah advises other Gold Star students to never give up and to cherish the time they had with their parent, because it is the memories that mean the most.
There are approximately 25,000 children who have lost an active-duty parent in the military over the last 35 years. The vision of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation is to ensure that every such child receives all necessary college funding.
