Fort Bragg Widow Runs in Alaska to Remember Loved One

More than 60 widows of members of the armed forces ran together at the Anchorage Big Wild runs Sunday in memory of their loved ones and to raise awareness about an organization that offers.

Fort Bragg widow Brittany Grider was among the group of runners over the weekend and posted on her Facebook page:

'Many thanks to TAPS for all they do; it was very powerful to be with so many other survivors and incredibly encouraging to see their strength and persevering in joy...grateful to be surrounded by such inspiring women. And keep an eye out for Aaron too!'

Grider started 'The Aaron Grider Foundation' to honor her spouse, Aaron Grider, who was killed in action on Sept. 18, 2010 in Iraq. The foundation supports surviving spouses and children of fallen service members through community service projects and events throughout the year. 

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, each day 22 veterans will commit suicide, leaving family members searching for answers. Last year, military records showed that more U.S. servicemen took their lives than the number of soldiers killed in the Afghanistan War, 349 active duty service members died by suicide while 295 died during combat.

A number of non-profits are helping those left behind to keep going, such as the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, better known as TAPS.

TAPS is a program that offers support to families of fallen military members and started nearly 20 years ago in Alaska.

By participating in the Big Wild Life Runs, and other activities throughout the weekend, the program hopes to bring together grieving family members to find support.

“It heals in a way that you don’t get in your everyday life and it makes you feel like you’re normal, like you have a safe place to share with other and experience the healing with them,” says Kylynn Maxwell, whose husband committed suicide after serving in Iraq.

Currently, TAPS serves more than 40,000 people nationwide helping military widows and families find hope again. The non-profit organization says they receive about thirteen new referrals a day, four of which are suicide related.

For widows like Rebecca Morrison, TAPS is all about helping people see through the grief and see that there is going to be a life after.

"It makes an incredible difference in my ability to continue on with my life and to find joy in things again and to live life again," says Maxwell.

--adapted from KTUU.com news report by Blake Essig