I believe in investing in our nation’s veterans, service members, and families of the fallen because their service and sacrifice continue long after military service ends and long after a family experiences a devastating loss.
My son, Army Specialist Fredrick Jenkins III, passed away in 2015 while stationed in Alaska. He was only 24 years old. Fredrick’s passing forever changed my life, but it also strengthened my commitment to honoring his service and carrying his legacy forward through service to others.
As President of the Department of Georgia American Gold Star Mothers, I work alongside other mothers who understand what it means to carry both profound grief and an enduring sense of purpose. We honor our children through remembrance, advocacy, community service, and support for veterans, military families, and other families of the fallen. For us, service is one of the ways love continues.
I believe veterans and families of the fallen have experiences, strength, and wisdom that can make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. When they are given opportunities to mentor and serve, they help teach the next generation about character, courage, responsibility, compassion, and the importance of contributing to something greater than oneself.
The Travis Manion Foundation’s message, “If Not Me, Then Who…,” speaks to me because it turns remembrance into action. It challenges each of us to recognize that we have something meaningful to contribute, even after life has changed us in ways we never expected.
I support the Travis Manion Foundation because it recognizes that veterans and families of the fallen are not defined only by what they have endured. We are also leaders, mentors, advocates, and servants in our communities. By investing in these individuals, the Foundation helps preserve the values of those we have lost while building stronger communities for the future.
Fredrick’s life and service continue to guide mine. Every time I serve another family, support a veteran, or help ensure that our fallen heroes are remembered, I carry his legacy forward.