On September 20, 2016, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Steve E. died in a plane crash. He is remembered as a loyal and loving husband, a proud father of six children, and a grandpa. “The feeling of losing someone you love is indescribable; however, this grief has helped me learn how to find the silver lining in any situation,” his daughter Hanna explained.
Hanna loved going on runs and playing catch with her Dad. Now, she strives to make him proud every day. “One important thing for me is that I try to focus on one day at a time,” she explained. “I find a lot of comfort in knowing there is a piece of him with me all the time.”
One of Hanna’s fondest memories with her Dad was when she was playing a softball game that he could not attend because he was working. “He ended up flying over my field in a formation with two other planes in the middle of my game. Everyone was so impressed - I felt like I had the coolest dad in the world!”
Hanna is currently pursuing a nursing degree at Sierra College. “I think my Dad would be most proud of me for keeping a 3.9 GPA in college and continuing to work towards my career goal.” With the help of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, she plans to become a Nurse Practitioner in Labor and Delivery.
“I have always loved helping people. I grew up in a big family so taking care of children has always come naturally for me. I have a true passion and fascination for anything medical or health-related, especially regarding neonatal and infant care.”
Nearly 25,000 military children have lost a parent in the line of duty over the past 35 years. Fallen Patriots is working to identify and support every child in need through raising funds and awareness of the mission.
