Heaven forbid you or your spouse ever end up being hurt or worse, paying the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Should this tragic and heroic turn of events happen, thank god for the wonderful members of our community who are there to stand beside you and your loved ones through this time of need.
Take for example, the dedicated group of women in charge of the local Married to the Badge Foundation. These incredibly compassionate women have banned together from all over the Western Slope to help and support the families of injured and fallen officers. There to help support the cause of the Married to the Badge Foundation, is Colorado Mesa University’s Student Veterans Association (SVA).
The Married to the Badge Foundation not only helps officers, “they even help when a [first responder] gets sick or wounded. If they aren’t able to go to work, they help the family anyway they can,” Connie Tipton, the Secretary of the SVA, said.
The 2018 All Services Ball was the most successful to date since the SVA took over the Ball four years ago, according to Amanda Herron, the Veteran’s Benefits and Services Coordinator and SVA adviser. The SVA is highly active in helping Veterans, First Responders and Military in our community. From their annual All Services Ball held in November, the SVA was able to donate $2,000 to help Married to the Badge.
“The women of the Married to the Badge were very open with what they do and what they need and put them very much in the forefront of the SVA’s minds when time came to decide who to vote for as the winner of the 2018 donation,” Tipton said.
“They provide a lot of meals too,” Herron said. “If the officer is in the hospital or has passed and the family needs help, they pitch together and provide meals to the family for as long as needed.”
What’s more important than helping those who put their lives on the line every single day to protect us? If you would like to learn more about Married to the Badge, or even contribute, you can either visit their website https://www.marriedtothebadge.org, or go to their Facebook page: Married to The Badge – Western Slope Auxiliary!
