The Sentinel: Military Family

In The Know | 9 stories you might have missed in the past week

A summary of our stories from December 20 through 22 readers might have missed. Subscribe to get your daily notification of The Sentinel's latest news and photos here. It's free and unsubscribe any time.

Photo of the Day | December 19, 2022

TOLONO - Unity's Henry Thomas goes up for a shot between two Pleasant Plains players during second half action of their non-conference contest on Saturday. In front of ...

Guest Commentary | Seeing the hurts of others doesn’t make your troubles go away

When I was a child at Tomahawk Elementary School in Martin County, Kentucky there were many kids who got little to nothing for Christmas. I had classmates who I would never ask if they got anything for Christmas because I already knew ...

Special holiday prices for court time available at Atkins Tennis Center

URBANA - Atkins Tennis Center is offering reduce rates on indoor court time now through January 15, 2023. Area players can keep those extra holiday pounds off without putting a huge dent in their wallet. Normally $30/hour for indoor ...

Prep Sports Notebook | Spartans, Rockets post wins on the hardcourt

Spartans Taylor Hug, Addison Frick, and Addisyn Martinie finished the night in double-digits taking down the 10-2 Timberwolves.

Raegan Stringer led the Rockets with 24 points and five assists. Addison Ray delivered a 12-point effort.

Mikayla Knake led the Lady T'Wolves with 16 points.

Photo of the Day | December 20, 2022

St. Joseph - With teammate Addisyn Martinie trying to help out, Addison Frick pulls down a rebound in SJO's home game ...

Frick drops 20 in SJO's road game at Oakwood

Addison Frick was perfect at the free throw line, 2-for-2, while leading the Spartans to their second-straight victory heading into the Christmas holiday lull. The 5-foot-7 junior finished the night with a game-high 20 points ...

A college education is gift we can give to children of our American heroes

NAPSI - While the holiday season is generally a time of joy and celebration, military families can often experience a very different range of emotions. Active service members and veterans returning home for the holidays might struggle to participate in family gatherings ...

Are you itching to get out and run the snow thrower?

NAPSI - With a total accumulation between two and four inches expected by this weekend and blowing snow until Sunday morning in our area, it is time to rev up the snow throwers and blowers to clear sidewalks and driveways for the holiday celebrations at your house.

Just like predicted precipitation from snow flurries and winter storms can be unpredictable, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) encourages home and business owners to be prepared in advance ...

With schools out for winter break, seasonal illnesses will be on the rise

Evergreen Park - Schools across the country are on winter break and holiday gatherings are here along with the winter weather. That means the perfect storm for seasonal illnesses to spread is nearly inevitable. This year we have heard the term "triple-demic" used in reference to the current strains of flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that are circulating across the country.

Ashley Audo, a student at Eastern Illinois University, poses with a photo of her father U.S. Army Major David Audo, who died while serving in Iraq in 2009. Audo is a recepient of a scholarship from the Children of Fallen Patriots.

Photo provided

NAPSI - While the holiday season is generally a time of joy and celebration, military families can often experience a very different range of emotions. Active service members and veterans returning home for the holidays might struggle to participate in family gatherings or even find the season particularly distressing. And, for the families of those service members who do not return, the holidays can be an agonizing reminder of a loved one’s absence.

In the spirit of the season, honoring the sacrifice of all men and women who proudly served in our armed forces through charitable giving can make a big difference, especially for students like Ashley Audo.

"It means that he was willing to put his life on the line for his country, as well as his family," Ashley Audo, a student at Eastern Illinois University, said in her student spotlight on the Children of Fallen Patriots website. "My Dad loved what he did, and I am proud that he was able to find happiness in life."

Audo added: "Receiving this scholarship from Children of Fallen Patriots has impacted my life because, without it, I would not be able to reach my goals and achieve my dreams of being a nurse.".

Children of Fallen Patriots, a foundation that honors the sacrifices of fallen military heroes by helping ensure the success of their children through college education, has outlined several ways that showcase how charitable giving ensures strong futures.

Support Veteran-Serving Organizations

Tens of thousands of non-profits exist in the United States dedicated to serving veterans and their families. With so many different veteran-serving organizations in the States, it’s crucial to ensure donations are doing the most good for heroes in need.

A good way to evaluate an organization is to use Charity Navigator, a renowned nonprofit evaluation site. The site rates charities on the cost-effectiveness and overall health of their programs on a four-star scale, evaluating their measures of stability, efficiency, and sustainability.

Care for Military Families in Need

Service members selflessly put their own lives on the line to ensure better lives for all Americans, but their families sacrifice much as well. While many organizations offer support directly to veterans, the family back home can get lost in the shuffle.

Children of Fallen Patriots provides college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who lost a parent in the line of duty. Studies show that almost 25,000 children have lost a parent in the line of duty over the last 35 years. A college education is a significant financial burden, and the majority of surviving military spouses make less than $50,000 annually.

Since 2002, Children of Fallen Patriots has provided over $61 million in support to over 2,700 children, including over 1,300 graduates. Additionally, the Gold Star family-focused nonprofit earned a perfect rating from Charity Navigator—an accomplishment less than 1% of the 200,000 rated charities have earned.

"The best way to honor the sacrifice of our service members is to ensure better futures for their children," said David Kim, co-founder and CEO of Children of Fallen Patriots. "A college education is the single most important gift we can give to the children of our fallen heroes, especially during the holiday season—a particularly difficult and stressful time for Gold Star families."

Generosity Goes Beyond The Wallet

Making a donation is one of the easiest ways to support veteran-serving organizations, but plenty of options exist.

More and more people give their time by coordinating fundraising events, such as bake sales and 5k runs. They also spread the word on social media so the country’s veteran community is supported and speak up about the issues that adversely affect them.

For more information on how you can support the foundation, visit www.fallenpatriots.org.

Update: This article has been updated to reflect that Maj. Audo lost his life in a non-combat related incident as reported by Military Times. Press release at the time of his demise indicate that Audo, 35, of St. Joseph, died on October 27, in Baghdad, from injuries sustained while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 22nd Military Police Battalion, 6th Military Police Group.

Sons and daughters of Navy pilots are eligible for scholarship

Are you a high school graduate and the natural, step, or adopted child or grandchild of a current or former Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer, or Aircrewman? Have you been accepted as an undergraduate at an accredited college?

If so, you may qualify for an annual scholarship through the Tailhook Educational Foundation to support the academic aspirations of the children and grandchildren of Naval Aviation veterans and active carrier aviators. Individuals, children and grandchildren of individuals who are serving or have served on board a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier in a Carrier Air Wing, Ship's company, or embarked on a Staff also qualify for scholarship funds that was established by the TOPGUN Fighter Foundation.

"We are always looking for ways to pay it forward and support our Tailhookers and their families who have given so much to our country," said E. Matthew 'Whiz' Buckley, Founder and Chairman of TOPGUN Fighter Foundation, in a released statement about the educational award. "What better way to show appreciation than helping fund the education of their children and grandchildren while enriching their knowledge of Naval Aviation."

Buckley was a F/A-18 Hornet Instructor and flew 44 combat missions over Iraq. He was awarded 2 Strike/Flight Air Medals by the President of the United States.

He added: "I am honored and humbled to wear the wings of gold and defend this great country and putting the ladder down for the next generation of Naval Aviators is the least I can do."

The scholarship is funded by a $60,000 in donations made to the Tailhook Educational Foundation. The permanent scholarship, set up by the TOPGUN Fighter Foundation, will use the $3,000 annual yield to support each year's grant payout. The annual scholarship was a natural fit to help countless children and grandchildren of Naval Aviation veterans and active carrier aviators.

In the past, the Tailhook Educational Foundation has awarded over 100 scholarships annually ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 per year with a number of the grants awarded to students pursuing an education in either Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts or Math. The goal of the funding is to help Naval Aviation legacy students in their pursuing an undergraduate degree.

The Tailhook Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in February 1992. The Foundation's mission is to educate the nation's public with regard to the history and present-day activities of the United States Navy carrier aviation and its importance to our country's national security.

To apply for a 2021 scholarship visit https://www.tailhook.net/tef-home.