When Sgt. Kyle Colnot, 23, was killed in action while serving in Iraq, he unknowingly passed a mission on to the family he left behind.
Just three months after Kyle died, his family established Our Fallen Solider to help other families facing similar tragic situations. The nonprofit organization was founded in August of 2006 by Kyle's father, Jack Colnot, and sister, Kelly Luisi, who serves as the family assistance coordinator and chief financial officer of Our Fallen Soldier.
“Through my brother's death, we realized the significant gaps in the military assistance the government gives to families of fallen soldiers,” said Luisi, who resides in Carlsbad. “We could not believe the things we had to go through to ensure that all of our family could attend my brother's funeral.”
Luisi said her two older brothers, who live in Oregon, had to sell their personal possessions to raise enough money to fly their young families to the funeral in California. She said the military only provides financial assistance to a fallen soldier's biological parents, children and spouse; most airlines no longer offer grievance discounts.
“Families are under a tremendous amount of emotional stress during a time of loss like this. The last thing they need is the financial burden of getting to a funeral,” she said. “Thus, Our Fallen Soldier was born.”
The organization provides financial aide through its family assistance fund so families can be together to pay their final respects.
Luisi said Our Fallen Soldier has already directly assisted six families. She said the nonprofit also sent 35 children from Fort Hood Army Base in Texas to grievance camp over the summer.
The organization has volunteers who recently started making blankets that are sent to the children of fallen soldiers. Donors can sponsor the blankets, which are embroidered with the name of the child's deceased mother or father.
On its Web site, Our Fallen Soldier offers free memorial page space to the family and friends of those killed while serving their country. Luisi said more than 125 memorial pages have been established.
“This is a way for each soldier to be remembered and their story to be told,” she said. “I believe it offers people a place to pay honor and respect to their fallen soldier, and it helps people through the healing process.”
Besides donations, the nonprofit raises money by selling bracelets that say “Freedom is Not Free” and “Support Our Troops.” The bracelets are available for $4 each at www.ourfallensoldier.com.
“I dream that one day everyone will be wearing one,” Luisi said. “We would like more local businesses to get behind us and sell our bracelets on their store counters.”
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Luisi to discuss Our Fallen Solider in more detail and the ways the community can get involved with the organization.
CBJ: How do you find the families Our Fallen Soldier assists?
Luisi: We are oftentimes contacted by a casualty assistance officer or base commanding officer with a family in need. Casualty officers are assigned the horrific task of notifying a family of the death of their loved one. Our Fallen Soldier reviews each request on an individual basis because no situation is the same or similar. We have a certain protocol we follow to ensure to ourselves and our donors that the requests are valid.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the organization?
Luisi: We recently chose a Christmas service project. Our goal is to provide more than 400 injured servicemen and women who are in a military hospital in Texas with necessities and holiday goodies. All of these men and women have been injured in the line of duty while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. We want to show them that they are not forgotten and that America remembers the sacrifices they have made to ensure our freedom. We are currently taking donations of many items to help these injured soldiers.
For the future, I see Our Fallen Soldier continuing to extend our hand to fallen soldiers' families. We would like to see our educational programs expand to further educate our next generation about veterans and fallen soldiers.
CBJ: What needs does the organization have?
Luisi: Our Fallen Soldier is in need of volunteers. Whether it is individuals or groups, we could use assistance. Corporate sponsorships are needed too. We need not only donations of money, but airline tickets, corporate frequent flyer miles and items for our holiday duffle bags.
CBJ: What do you enjoy about being headquartered in Carlsbad?
Luisi: People here are very friendly and supportive. We continue to be amazed by our community. Although this organization allows me to reach families all over the country, I am proud to call Carlsbad home. I love the community and its people.
CBJ: How do you measure success?
Luisi: By nothing other than the incredible feeling I get when I am able to tell a family member: “Yes, you are going to be able to make it to your fallen soldier's funeral. We are going to get you there.” That is the greatest success I could ever imagine. My brother Kyle believed in his mission and the changes he was a part of in Iraq. We now realize that Kyle's mission was cut short here on Earth, but ours has just begun. We are determined to make a difference. We are not about being for or against the war. We are about supporting our troops! We are about making a difference in the families left behind. We have been called “the family that continues to serve.” That is the greatest success possible.
For more information about Our Fallen Solider, call (760) 214-1122 or visit www.ourfallensoldier.com.
Just three months after Kyle died, his family established Our Fallen Solider to help other families facing similar tragic situations. The nonprofit organization was founded in August of 2006 by Kyle's father, Jack Colnot, and sister, Kelly Luisi, who serves as the family assistance coordinator and chief financial officer of Our Fallen Soldier.
“Through my brother's death, we realized the significant gaps in the military assistance the government gives to families of fallen soldiers,” said Luisi, who resides in Carlsbad. “We could not believe the things we had to go through to ensure that all of our family could attend my brother's funeral.”
Luisi said her two older brothers, who live in Oregon, had to sell their personal possessions to raise enough money to fly their young families to the funeral in California. She said the military only provides financial assistance to a fallen soldier's biological parents, children and spouse; most airlines no longer offer grievance discounts.
“Families are under a tremendous amount of emotional stress during a time of loss like this. The last thing they need is the financial burden of getting to a funeral,” she said. “Thus, Our Fallen Soldier was born.”
The organization provides financial aide through its family assistance fund so families can be together to pay their final respects.
Luisi said Our Fallen Soldier has already directly assisted six families. She said the nonprofit also sent 35 children from Fort Hood Army Base in Texas to grievance camp over the summer.
The organization has volunteers who recently started making blankets that are sent to the children of fallen soldiers. Donors can sponsor the blankets, which are embroidered with the name of the child's deceased mother or father.
On its Web site, Our Fallen Soldier offers free memorial page space to the family and friends of those killed while serving their country. Luisi said more than 125 memorial pages have been established.
“This is a way for each soldier to be remembered and their story to be told,” she said. “I believe it offers people a place to pay honor and respect to their fallen soldier, and it helps people through the healing process.”
Besides donations, the nonprofit raises money by selling bracelets that say “Freedom is Not Free” and “Support Our Troops.” The bracelets are available for $4 each at www.ourfallensoldier.com.
“I dream that one day everyone will be wearing one,” Luisi said. “We would like more local businesses to get behind us and sell our bracelets on their store counters.”
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Luisi to discuss Our Fallen Solider in more detail and the ways the community can get involved with the organization.
CBJ: How do you find the families Our Fallen Soldier assists?
Luisi: We are oftentimes contacted by a casualty assistance officer or base commanding officer with a family in need. Casualty officers are assigned the horrific task of notifying a family of the death of their loved one. Our Fallen Soldier reviews each request on an individual basis because no situation is the same or similar. We have a certain protocol we follow to ensure to ourselves and our donors that the requests are valid.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the organization?
Luisi: We recently chose a Christmas service project. Our goal is to provide more than 400 injured servicemen and women who are in a military hospital in Texas with necessities and holiday goodies. All of these men and women have been injured in the line of duty while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. We want to show them that they are not forgotten and that America remembers the sacrifices they have made to ensure our freedom. We are currently taking donations of many items to help these injured soldiers.
For the future, I see Our Fallen Soldier continuing to extend our hand to fallen soldiers' families. We would like to see our educational programs expand to further educate our next generation about veterans and fallen soldiers.
CBJ: What needs does the organization have?
Luisi: Our Fallen Soldier is in need of volunteers. Whether it is individuals or groups, we could use assistance. Corporate sponsorships are needed too. We need not only donations of money, but airline tickets, corporate frequent flyer miles and items for our holiday duffle bags.
CBJ: What do you enjoy about being headquartered in Carlsbad?
Luisi: People here are very friendly and supportive. We continue to be amazed by our community. Although this organization allows me to reach families all over the country, I am proud to call Carlsbad home. I love the community and its people.
CBJ: How do you measure success?
Luisi: By nothing other than the incredible feeling I get when I am able to tell a family member: “Yes, you are going to be able to make it to your fallen soldier's funeral. We are going to get you there.” That is the greatest success I could ever imagine. My brother Kyle believed in his mission and the changes he was a part of in Iraq. We now realize that Kyle's mission was cut short here on Earth, but ours has just begun. We are determined to make a difference. We are not about being for or against the war. We are about supporting our troops! We are about making a difference in the families left behind. We have been called “the family that continues to serve.” That is the greatest success possible.
For more information about Our Fallen Solider, call (760) 214-1122 or visit www.ourfallensoldier.com.