Family Readiness Group » casualty
Survivor Support
The following organizations offer resources and support to military families dealing with a soldier’s death.
Armed Forces Services Corp
Offers an unparalleled system of services to help you and your family plan for your future and your survivorship needs. Information on benefits for survivors of active duty military personnel. The charitable relief services of all branches of the military provide free membership to this service, but the surviving spouse has to formally request the service. Call (888) AFSC-USA.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
Grief counseling and other services for widows and other military family members. Call (800) 959-TAPS. They offer a Brochure for Surviving Families as well as a Brochure for Friends.
Veteran’s Administration’s (VA) Readjustment Counseling Service
Offers grief counseling to the family of Service Members who die while on active duty. The service is open to grandparents, parents, spouses, siblings and children. Contact them by phone at (202) 273-9116 or by email at vet.center@hq.med.va.gov. For more info download this document (Word File).
National Military Family Association
The NMFA fact sheet on Benefits for Survivors of Active Duty Deaths has been updated, phone (703) 931-6632 or visit their website.
Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.
This military survivors organization has been serving war widows from all conflicts and service connected disabilities since 1945. They offer a support group newsletter and an extensive list of on-line resources from benefits and children’s scholarships to quilts. Call (888) 751-6350.
Gold Star Mothers of America, Inc.
The membership of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. is composed of American Mothers who lost a son or daughter during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Beirut, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf, Somalia, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, all Strategic Areas, or while in service to our country.
Especially for Children
From MilitaryChild.org, Caring for Kids after Trauma and Death (PDF).