The Chief of Naval Personnel announced Nov. 9, that the Department of the Navy (DON) nominee for the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award has received the honor as the overall Department of Defense (DOD) winner.

After competing against entrants from all the service branches, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) organization was chosen as the top nominee for exhibiting compassionate care and support to surviving family members and friends of fallen service members. The organization has reached over 50,000 survivors in addition to helping children cope with the death of a loved one through mentoring and counseling.

TAPS, a non-profit organization was established in 1994 by Bonnie Carroll, after her husband and seven others were killed in an Army plane crash. TAPS is scheduled to be recognized for their achievement during a ceremony Dec. 1, at the Pentagon hosted by the secretary of the Air Force.

TAPS services include providing a 24/7 resource and informational helpline to support and assist families through difficult issues. The organization also offers tailored support for young survivors through "Good Grief" Camps. These camps assist children through the grieving process by pairing them with a trained volunteer service member to create a lasting relationship of mentorship.

In 1996, the secretaries of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force approved the establishment of the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Award for Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Service. The award ceremony is rotated among each service secretary to host. The award consists of a large commemorative trophy with the annual recipient's name engraved on brass plates. This trophy remains on display in the Pentagon and is removed only for the ceremony.

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