Honoring Service, Supporting Families: The Fallen Heroes Scholarship and Tragedy Assistance

The Coast Guard Foundation offers support to Coast Guard families in times of need through our Fallen Heroes Scholarship and tragedy assistance program.

Fallen Heroes Scholarship
Our Fallen Heroes Scholarship supports children of Coast Guard members who have died in operational, line of duty service. This scholarship covers 100% of their higher education expenses, allowing these young people to graduate debt-free and honors their Coast Guard member's service and sacrifice.

Our Impact in 2024
Thirteen surviving children of Coast Guard members who made the ultimate sacrifice received Fallen Heroes scholarships and booster grants. Booster grants provided school-aged children of the fallen with opportunities to engage in year-round enrichment, from academic support to summer camp. Scholarships ensured students could pursue higher education by covering 100% of expenses at the school of their choice. The scholarship program covers all sorts of education pathways including college, trade school, and professional certification.  

Fallen Heroes Scholarship Recipients
Harper Bruckenthal | DC3 Nathan Bruckenthal and Patricia Bruckenthal
Tyler Ferreby | SN Christopher Ferreby and Amy Ferreby
Kade Horne | BCMS Terrell Horne III and Jessica Brown
Madeline Kozloski | CWO2 Michael Kozloski and Brienne Kozloski
Kerryann Krueger | LCDR Sean Krueger and Kyla Krueger
Aurora Jean Nelson | CAPT Thomas Nelson and Victoria Nelson
Evan Taylor | LCDR Dale Taylor and Teresa Taylor

Supporting Families Through Tragedy Assistance
We offer a complete support system for families facing tragedy. If a service member is injured, critically ill, or loses their life, we offer financial assistance to ensure their family and Coast Guard shipmates can remain close during those challenging times. For active-duty members whose spouse or dependent child dies, we offer grants to ease unexpected financial burdens.

Our Impact in 2024
Twenty-two Coast Guard families received tragedy assistance support after the death of their Coast Guard member or immediate family member, providing comfort and tangible assistance during their time of great need. Coast Guard members who were critically injured or experiencing a chronic illness received financial support to aid in their recovery. In addition, the Foundation provided long-term aid to families of Fallen Heroes to remember them and honor their service.

Generous donors and supporters across the country fuel our work.  Here, we feature two community building events -- the Aviation Workout to Remember and the Coast Guard Foundation Run to Remember-- that contribute to the cause and help us award scholarships to the children of the fallen and support families in need.

Coast Guard Aviation Workout to Remember
The Coast Guard Aviation Workout to Remember is an annual event that honors “Coast Guard aviators who made the ultimate sacrifice and support those they left behind.” On February 28 each year, members complete the “6535 Memorial Workout” to honor of the crew of Coast Guard helicopter 6535 (CG-6535) and all Coast Guard aviators who died in service to our country. Through the sale of commemorative Workout to Remember t-shirts and partnerships with other veteran-owned businesses, participants raise funds to support the Fallen Heroes Scholarship program. Since the program’s inception in 2012, more than $23,000 has been raised for the scholarship program. 

Coast Guard Foundation Run to Remember
Each year, Coast Guard members and the Coast Guard Foundation community honor fallen service members through the Run to Remember. Participants take part in road races, memorial walks, and fitness events to raise support for tragedy assistance programs. One of the primary ways people join the effort is through purchasing commemorative Run to Remember t-shirts: one design features the names of the fallen and another encourages participants to “take a step, make a difference” for Coast Guard members and families in need.