Grief Camp for Law Enforcement Surviving Families

EAST TROY, Wis., July 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Salvation Army Camp in East Troy, WI, will be filled with children this week (July 28-August 2) singing camp songs, lining up for meals, fishing, canoeing, learning archery and pellet gun shooting… and attending grief counseling sessions. The unique thing about this camp is that the children will accompanied by their parent/guardian so both can address the grief issues involved with the line-of-duty death of their spouses/parents who were law enforcement officers. Over 230 people will be attending the camp from all across the nation.

Concerns of Police Survivors, a national, grief support organization serving over 15,000 surviving families of America’s fallen law enforcement officers, has been sponsoring this camp for 14 years. “We want to provide these kids with the best summers of their lives and yet, have a positive impact on how they rebuild their lives after the death of a parent. Our camp presents an opportunity for the kids to meet other kids so they can realize they aren’t the only kids in the world having to deal with the death of a parent,” said Suzie Sawyer, Executive Director of C.O.P.S., and the initiator of this camp.

“Years ago, I attended C.O.P.S. Kids Summer Camp for my son, Matthew. We attended camp for several years. Last year he ‘graduated’ because he reached the age of 14. It was after camp last year that I realized how much this camp helped me as well,” said Yvette Wallace, Matt’s mother. Matt and Yvette are the surviving family of DEA Agent Frank A. Wallace, who was killed in an aircraft accident in Peru on February 27, 1994. Matthew Wallace was a toddler when his father was killed.

This camp, planned for children ages 6-14, is one of several programs Concerns of Police Survivors sponsors for law enforcement survivors. C.O.P.S. anticipates costs for this healing camp to top $100,000.

Surviving teenagers (ages 15-20) of fallen officers will be attending a C.O.P.S. sponsored Outward Bound(R) experience during the same time frame as this camp. Throughout the year, C.O.P.S. also hosts retreats for parents, siblings, spouses, adult children, and fiances/significant others of fallen officers.

Surviving spouses and children will be available for interviews during the week. Visit http://www.nationalcops.org/ for more information on the organization.

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Source: Concerns of Police Survivors