We’re all too familiar with the scene: a mother, wife or loved one hears the doorbell and the dreaded news is waiting on the other side: their loved one has been killed in action. The grief is immeasureable and the pain seems insurmountable.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) was formed by Bonnie Carroll in 1994 to try to help and heal the pain. Her own husband was killed in action and she knew there was a huge need for resources for those left behind. Through 24-hour peer assistance lines to grief camps to trauma resources, TAPS has become a nationally known “port in the storm” for surviving family and loved ones. They have assisted more than 50,000 surviving family members, casualty officers and caregivers.
Now in it’s ninth year, the Colorado Celebrity Classic helps to raise funds for TAPS. On Thursday night, the Songwriters Show kicked off the event with some of Nashville’s – and California’s – finest songwriters. This exceptional show featured Frank Myers, Eddy Raven, Jimmy Nichols, Walt Aldrich and Danny Wells, plus two songwriters who are also current film and TV actors, Gregg Henry and Bruce Greenwood.
The Classic continued with a golf tournament and a chuckwagon barbeque on Friday. For more information on TAPS programs and how you can get involved, log on to www.TAPS.org.
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- Dick and Barbara Martin
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- Ralph Achilles, Dave Studdard and Tony David
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- Mary Hinkle and Karel Hinkle
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- Rachel Kodanez, left, and Jewell Hargrave
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- Sally Stanley, left, Joan Beninati, Jill Cullis
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- Randy and Betsy Beard–they lost their son in battle and Betsy wrote the popular book “Klinger”
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- Robin Leininger and her son Nathan
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- Ron and Carole Kohler
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- Gary and Nepeta Godec, left, and Diane and Roger Greenberg
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- Jimmy and Tracy Louthan, new oweners of the Aurora Summit
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- Event founders Lynne and Bo Cottrell
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- KOA’s Mike Rosen and Barb Simmons
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- Auctioneers Roger Sierens and Al Train
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- Steve House chats with Tyler Hart
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- Deana LeDue and Clark Stephens
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- Dave Evans, Deb Conroy and Gina Horton
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- Charles and Kelli Freter
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- Volunteer Mike Sundrin and TAPS bears–given to a TAPS child with a personal note from donors
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- Nina Hendricks, left, Tony David and Pat Robinson
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- Nina Hendricks and Eric Schierburg
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- Kelly Brady, Dan Kopelman and Reagan
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- Part of the Coors Cowboy Club Chuckwagon Crew: Kent David, left, Chuck Tisdale, Randy Carruth, Virgil Bartlett and Butch Bingham
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- General Gene Renuart and his wife Jill
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- Greg Londo, left, with Randy and Pat Taylor
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- Sharron Guy, left, Bill Reisbeck, Shirley Munsey and Chuck Drake
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- Bo Cottrell and Tom Allee
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- Casey Kemp and Pat Robinson
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- Mort and Edie Marks
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- AE2 Matthew and Carmella Gallegos
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- Chief Karl and Trinette Ward
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- Ray and Kim Uhrig
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- Elaine and Dave Greiner
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- Priscilla and Tony Przybyslawski
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- Alice and Kerry Edwards
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- Sandra and Ed Castor
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- Jodi Dyce, left, Ian Ayler and Tory Buchen
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- Event Chair Linda Cavanagh provided scrumptious food for the VIP recpetion
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- George Karl in front of the memory board
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- Former Superintendent of the Air Force Academy, Lt Gen Mike Gould and Paula Gould
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- Lynne Cottrell, left, with Sharon Ernest and Jim O’Connor
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- Penny Shuey and Fred Beisser
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- Lisa and Bob Terry, left, Charley and Anne Garcia, Ralph Achilles and Paul Beninati
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- Glen and Jan Burmeister, left, with Pat and Jack Durliat
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- Jack and Pam Seago
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- George Karl, left, Bo Cottrell and Paul Beninati
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- Could they be talking basketball? Former coaches George Karl, left, and Bill Hanzlik
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- Jayne and Ron Russell, left, Rose and Gary Kvamme, Mary Anne and Bob Lachenmaier and Devon Denler
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- Tom Dyk, left, Greg Londo and Wendell Burton
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- Gen Gene Renuart chats with Tom Allee
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- Edie Marks talks with Deborah Massa
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- Edie Marks makes a point to Pete Coors
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- Mike Fyles, left, Jill Tarver, Michelle Day, Col Steve Day, Tom Tarver
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- Christine Burtt, left, Aizlinne Burr and Erin Burr
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- Actor John Ashton, left, is greeted by Wendell Burton
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- George Karl and Bill Hanzlik share a light moment
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- Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers, right
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- June and actor Sonny Van Dusen
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- Lynne Cottrell listens to Betsy Beard talk about the journey that led to her writing “Klinger.”
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- Event founder Lynne Cottrell thanks the audience
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- Auctioneer Roger Sierens of “Sold by Sierens”
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- Steve and Donna House listen to the program
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- Comedian Ralph Achilles was back as emcee
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- Ralph Achilles deadpans
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- Songwriters on stage
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- Danny Wells, Walt Aldrich, Eddy Raven, Frank Myers and Jimmy Nichols came to perform songs they wrote
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- Songwriters jamming on stage
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- Songwriters having a good time harmonizing
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- The crowd enjoyed listening to country favorites
