Rex Ledford
The TAPS Mission
TAPS is the national organization that provides compassionate care for the families of those grieving the loss of a military loved one. The mission of TAPS is to provide peer-based emotional support to all those who are grieving the death of someone who died during or as a result of their military service to the United States.
Through an established peer mentoring network, case work assistance, in-person care groups and online support services, TAPS supports the families of the fallen 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Survivors can connect with others in-person at TAPS grief seminars and retreats for adults and TAPS Good Grief Camps and Campouts for children. Families and members of the public can also honor the fallen through Team TAPS and teams4taps events.
TAPS publishes and distributes grief and trauma resources, including survivor resource guides, materials and the quarterly TAPS Magazine. The TAPS casework assistance program helps families resolve difficult issues and helps families find answers to questions about benefits.
TAPS connects families with community-based care; through partnerships with Vet Centers and other nonprofits, TAPS connects survivors to free and unlimited one-on-one counseling. TAPS care groups operate around the country.
The TAPS 24/7 resource and information helpline at (800) 959-TAPS (8277) is answered 365 days a year by a live person who is there to offer compassion, support and assistance to the families of America's fallen military.
TAPS Outreach
TAPS has assisted more than 80,000 surviving family members, casualty assistance officers, chaplains and others supporting bereaved military families since 1994. TAPS is committed to providing compassionate care to anyone who is grieving the death of someone who served in the military, regardless of circumstance of death, relationship to the deceased, or geography. Services are provided free-of-charge. On average, TAPS reaches new survivors within two weeks of casualty notification.
Clay County has a TAPS Care Group meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month at The Corner Coffee Shop, 66 Church Street, Hayesville.
Rex Ledford is Veterans Service Officer for Clay County. Call 389-6301 for an appointment. Email: rledford@claync.us.