#116: Educating the Children of Fallen Patriots - Development Officer Jeanette McMahon

What happens to the children of our service members when they make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom and American way of life? Who makes sure they’re taken care of, have a bright future and are afforded every opportunity to be successful in life? 

In this episode, Fran Racioppi dives into the incredible work of Children of Fallen Patriots, an organization dedicated to providing educational support to the children of fallen service members. Fran is joined by Fallen Patriots’ Development Officer, Colonel Jeanette McMahon from Pepisco Headquarters to celebrate the 2023 culmination of Rolling Remembrance, Pepsico’s cross-country journey to honor the American Flag, the heroes who defend it, and the children who are left behind.  

Jeanette and her children are themselves the Gold Star Family of LTC Michael McMahon. She shares with Fran their “growth of grief” as the emotional toll of loss changes as children grow up.  Jeanette was a West Point graduate and one of the first women in US Army Aviation. Today, she works to ensure every child of our fallen has access to an education. 

Learn more about Fallen Patriots and get involved in the education of our next generation of leaders. 

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video version on YouTube.

Highlights:

• 0:00 Welcome to Rolling Remembrance and Pepsi Headquarters
•  1:31 Losing a parent in the line of duty
• 4:10 America’s future relies on the education of our youth 
• 9:21 COL Jeanette McMahon leads women in Army Aviation
• 12:12 Remembering LTC Michael McMahon
• 14:43 How children grieve at every milestone of life
• 19:04 Rolling Remembrance results in over $2M in Pepsico support
• 23:05 Get involved to support the children of our fallen

Quotes: 

• “Children of Fallen Patriots provides that debt free college education for those students who have lost a parent in the line of duty.” (2:20)
• “Our future of our country relies on our youth.” (7:15)
• “I think you just kind of go into automatic survival mode; especially a mom with kids. You have to get them through it.” (14:13)
• “It’s a growth of grief…children go through those stages but their brain actually develops and is now able to understand it at a different level. “ (14:55)
• “It stops at 60 places across the country. It just literally drives from state to state.” (21:05)
• “All the folks that we hire as scholarship administrators are Gold Star Kids themselves and have received scholarships.” (22:27)
• “We have 12,000 kids in our system. We know there’s 25,000 out there.” (23:45

This episode is brought to you by Compass Workforce Solutions.