[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 173 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF BONNIE CARROLL, RECIPIENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF 
FREEDOM FOR HER COMMITMENT TO HEALING FAMILIES OF FALLEN MEMBERS OF THE 
                             ARMED SERVICES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 1, 2015

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent, 
Bonnie Carroll, of Loudoun County, Virginia, who received the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 24th. The Presidential Medal 
of Freedom is our nation's highest civilian honor, and I am humbled to 
recognize Mrs. Carroll today.
   Mrs. Carroll is a retired major in the United States Air Force 
Reserve who has dedicated her career to aiding family members of our 
nation's veterans and service members. Following the death of her 
husband--Brig. Gen. Tom Charles Carroll, who died in an Army C-12 plane 
crash in Alaska in 1992--she founded the Tragedy Assistance Program for 
Survivors (TAPS), which seeks to support families who have lost loved 
ones in the military.
   Mrs. Carroll utilized the resources given to her following her 
husband's death to start this fantastic organization that offers help 
to so many families who are grieving. As Founder and President, Mrs. 
Carroll has made it her priority to provide resources to families of 
fallen service members in their time of need. TAPS runs a peer support 
network that connects families with others who are grieving across the 
United States. Since its founding, TAPS has assisted over 50,000 family 
members.
   Mrs. Carroll, we thank you for your stewardship in our community and 
your lifelong commitment to public service. You have made your nation 
and the 10th District of Virginia proud. I wish you the best of success 
in the years to come.

                          ____________________