A New Kind Of Hero
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 9:32PM | Marc Scarlata | Post a Comment | Share Article | Email Article She has won the 2011 Newsweek Magazine’s “150 Women Who Shake the World”, Diller-Von Frurstenburg Foundation’s “People Voice Award” Winner, L’Oreal’s 2010 National Women of Worth, Vh1’s Do Something Award Recipient and Austin Woman Magazine’s “10 Women to Watch.” She’s not an actress, singer, athlete, politician or celebrity of any kind. Her name is Taryn Davis. She’s a military widow.
Ultimate Sacrifice
In 2007, Taryn was 21 years, newly married and about to graduate from college. Her future was bright. But on May 21st of that year, she received word that her husband, Michael, was killed by a roadside bomb. Another of the 6,200 soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of this country since 2001.
With Veteran’s Day just passing, America honored and remembered the lives of our fallen hero’s, past and present. Taryn’s story begs an interesting question, though,… what about the sacrifice of the widows? They became lost in the process. Searching for a way to grieve and at the same time, help other military widows, she started a non-profit called American Widow Project which is “dedicated to the new generation of those who have lost the heroes of yesterday, today and tomorrow, with an emphasis on healing through sharing stories, tears and laughter. Military Widow to Military Widow.”
Learning How to Fly
Taryn has traveled the country to meet, talk and cry with other military widows. Her project has helped her find a new life and in turn help 900 other widows cope and find the courage to carry on new lives of their own. Her website americanwidowproject.org allows widows to share pictures and stories, remember their spouse, provide support and organize get togethers and events. The website also encourages “supporters” to help out and/or donate to the cause.
Because of her hard work and dedication to provide support and raise awareness for military widows, across the country, Taryn at the tender age of 25, has recently been named as a nominee for CNN’s 2011 Hero of the Year. You can vote for Taryn by clicking on the following link. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive11/taryn.davis.html It remains to be seen if Taryn will win this years vote. Regardless, I suspect, that Taryn is just happy knowing that Michael would be proud of her and the difference she is making in the lives of widows who have made their own sacrifices. Overcoming adversity is, afterall, the American way.