Military families and veterans are being honored during a fall campaign presented by CBS, NCIS and Lovesac.
In partnership with VIZIO, “Tuesdays of Honor” is an all-NCIS primetime lineup. This year’s campaign begins on Oct. 14 and concludes on Veterans’ Day. It provides eight veteran/military families and Gold Star families, selected through veteran service organizations TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) and Team Rubicon, with family room comfort upgrades.
“At CBS, we believe in the power of storytelling to connect, comfort and honor – a spirit that lives at the heart of our NCIS series,” said Mike Benson, president and chief marketing officer at CBS.
The family of Army Sgt. Luis Lopez, who died while stationed in Germany on Oct. 16, 2011, is among those selected to receive the upgrade.
Lopez’s daughter, Jasmine, was 6 years old when her father died.
“He was an amazing character, from what I’ve been told,” she said. “The only words I hear about my dad are that he was courageous, he was kindhearted. He was always there for people, which is something I strive for.”
Jasmine, who is now 20 and a junior at the University of Oregon, said the most vivid memory she has of her dad is attending a Father-Daughter dance with him.
“I remember dancing with him, being happy that he was there,” she said. “I remember what I was feeling being with him.”
Jasmine was living in Los Angeles with her mother, Sandra, and her three sisters when her father died. A few months after his passing, she went to her first TAPS event at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
“TAPS has been a huge part of my life for so long,” she said. “The peer connection I’ve got, the friends I met at that first event are still my friends to this day.”
Since 1994, the national nonprofit has provided compassionate care and comprehensive resources to all those grieving a death in the military or veteran community at no cost to surviving families and loved ones.
“It has really helped me to have a connection with those kids who have also lost a parent,” she said.
Today, Jasmine serves as a Legacy Mentor for TAPs, providing support and guidance for new, younger survivors.
“I don’t know where I’d be now if we had not joined TAPS,” she said.
Jasmine’s mom, Sandra, is a TAPS Peer Mentor and her sisters Karen, Liliana and Margaret are also volunteers.
“TAPS is deeply honored to stand with CBS, NCIS and Team Rubicon in the ‘Tuesdays of Honor’ campaign,” said Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of TAPS. “This effort pays tribute to the extraordinary service and sacrifice of America’s fallen heroes and their families. We are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to share their stories with the nation, ensuring their legacies of courage, duty and love of country will always be remembered and celebrated.”
“Tuesdays of Honor” concludes with a special “NCIS” and “NCIS: Origins” crossover event planned for Veterans Day.
“It’s so great that they wanted to share our stories, to share who we are as people,” Jasmine said.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.