The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and officials from the Marine Corps Casualty Assistance program signed a memorandum of agreement formalizing a long-standing relationship on February 3rd at the Marsh Center in Quantico Virginia. The agreement will cut down on the time between when families are notified of a loved one’s passing and when TAPS receives contact information from the Marine Corps. Prior to the agreement, 60 days passed before next-of-kin information could be relayed to TAPS; the agreement cuts that time to between two and seven days.

Timothy R. Larsen, director of Personal and Family Readiness Division, signed the MOA on behalf of the Marine Corps. “What TAPS provides is very important to Marine Corps families,” said Larsen. “This is an area the Marine Corps really needs to focus on and we look forward to progression by formally starting the process of getting families help sooner. There is nothing more important to the commandant than taking care of Marines.”

The ceremony was attended by Marine Corps families who have lost service personnel, and senior spouses of Marine Corps leadership including Annette Conway, wife of Marine Corps Commandant General James T. Conway.

“The Marine Corps has seen the amazing job TAPS has done so far,” said Mrs. Conway. “We’ve realized we need to get families who have lost someone help right away. But before there were some rules that would block us from doing that. But this document allows us to get families connected with TAPS right away so they can get help. The families still want to be part of the Marine Corps and we don’t want to leave them, so this partnership allows us to do that.”

Bonnie Carroll, director of TAPS, said this agreement “shows the care the Marine Corps has for its fallen.” Carroll founded TAPS in 1994 and it is now nationally recognized as a leading provider of comfort and care to anyone who has suffered the loss of a military loved one.

Family members who have lost a Marine who were present for signing, feel TAPS has helped them in a way no one else could. “These volunteers have all lost someone,” said Pam Zembiec, the widow of fallen Capt. Doug Zembiec. “They know what that pain is like,” said Zembiec. “They are very willing to help. I’ve had so many people come up to me and say ‘I don’t know how to help you. I don’t know what to say.’ TAPS knew exactly what to say.”