Dale M. is the son of fallen U.S. Army Major Michael M. He was 12 years old when his father lost his life. “My dad’s military service means the world to me,” Dale explained. “He was a leader and a great man. I like to believe his love for our country and his innate desire to help and do the right thing led him to his last deployment, even though he was hesitant because of us four kids.”
With the help of Fallen Patriots, Dale is studying aviation at Eastern Kentucky University. He aspires to be an airline pilot for American Airlines so he can be part of Snowball Express, a program that sends families of fallen soldiers on an all-expenses-paid vacation. “On my very last trip with them, I decided that on the way home it would be interesting to learn how to fly an airplane,” he said.
Dale knows his father would be proud of him for doing so well in school. He says his involvement with the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity has given him a home away from home and lifelong friends. He encourages other military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty to make friends and try to have fun in college.
“Fallen Patriots has impacted my life by giving me assistance when I really need it. When my back is against the wall with school, Children of Fallen Patriots is always there to lend a hand,” Dale said.
Approximately 25,000 children 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.
