American Legion Auxiliary

2013 Public Spirit Award Recipient - Bonnie Carroll, Founder of TAPS

Carroll is president and founder of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, the national Veterans Service Organization providing peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources and information, casualty casework assistance and crisis intervention for all those affected by the death of a loved one serving in, or in support of, the armed forces.

Carroll founded TAPS following the death of her husband, Brig. Gen. Tom Carroll, who died in an Army C-12 plane crash in 1992. She is a trained Critical Incident Stress Debriefer, member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the American Association for Death Education and Counseling. She has authored numerous articles on grief and trauma and appeared on CNN, FOX, NBC’s “Today Show” and other programs speaking about military loss. Carroll was featured in People magazine’s Heroes Among Us and received recognition as Washingtonian of the Year. She has also received the National Citizen for 2010 award from the Military Chaplains Association.
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