Veterans’ Advocate Dedicates Life to Honoring Fallen

Laura Herzog’s life changed forever on November 10, 2009, when, while working as a Public Affairs Officer at a Southern California military base, she was asked to travel to Anaheim to talk with the mother and family of Lance Corporal Justin Swanson who had been killed in Afghanistan. “That day changed me as a human,” she said. “I have never been the same person since that day.” She says Swanson was a young man “she never knew, never met, never saw,” but who changed her life forever.

Honoring the Fallen, Filling a Unique Need

After helping Swanson’s family, she felt she’d found her calling. Herzog founded her nonprofit “Honoring our Fallen” specifically to meet a need other charities serving Veterans had not yet addressed. She and her group specifically help families during the transfer of dignified remains. Herzog and her team coordinate all the logistical details by contacting airlines, police and fire, area funeral homes, and other nonprofits so military personnel can focus on meeting the unique needs of families and families can spend their time remembering their loved ones. 

Her phone is buzzing and beeping with a constant stream of calls and texts to and from airlines, airports, government officials, and first responders. She has even traveled alongside the caskets herself, lending support to families and friends throughout. She visits funeral homes with family to help them know what services they need as they plan a Veteran’s funeral and what her organization can help with, for example, transportation.

She jokes that her group is there to control the chaos.

Helping Lighten the Load

Herzog says after working in Southern California to support families of fallen heroes, she realized that Casualty Assistance Officers and Casualty Assistance Calls Officers (working for the Army and Marines, respectively) have quite a bit of work on their hands when the heroes are returned home. While her organization does not take this responsibility away, her magic helps lift the red tape and creates smooth sailing for the Veteran’s journey.

“All this stuff takes relationships and time, so that’s where we fill in for these officers, to lighten their load,” Herzog said.

The group works to support military families where support is needed and how it’s requested and links organizations to provide other help like counseling, financial support, housing assistance, etc. for the families who need it.

Besides having contacts to handle all the logistics of the Veteran returns, she also has partners with other nonprofits including the Patriot Guard Riders who provide motorcycle escorts, the USO, and the American Legion. “I believe in collaboration. I don’t believe that any one of us can do this alone,” she said. Herzog says she takes care of the logistical “busywork” so the focus can stay on the family.

An Honor and Privilege

“We’re just honored to be a part of serving these families whose loved ones have given all … to have the honor and privilege of watching the other organizations to work alongside us, and those that come in after the funeral and burial to continue to give them to offer the continued care programs that are out there,” she explained.

Herzog shared the story of her many tattoos with Afterall and explained that one of them is in honor of the first family she supported with a picture of Justin Swanson’s dog tag. She received the Swanson family’s permission before getting the tattoo. She also has her organization’s logo tattooed on her back along with other images important to her representing her patriotism, her faith which has inspired her service, and symbols from nature.

Personal Loss and Acceptance

Herzog suffered her own personal loss after her mother was killed in a car crash last February. She explained her mother was driving in the middle of the day when she was struck and killed by a driver going over 80 in the wrong direction who plowed into her. But Herzog says the tragedy has helped her accept the unpredictability of death and dying. “None of us are promised another minute. None of us are promised tomorrow.”

A Reminder to Be Present

“You just don’t know. Because of all of that, it’s helped me with my perspective. It’s helped me do my job better. It’s helped me with the acceptance that we don’t have control over what happens. All that we can do is be present and support the person who is going through it,” Herzog said. “It works. I’ve been doing it for 14 years now.”

Laura Herzog is the former Public Affairs Officer for the Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, Calif. She served as the lead for Hero Missions (fallen soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq), coordinated public appearances for the JFTB base commander, disseminated information for JFTB to the public, and was the base spokeswoman who acted as the primary liaison with media.

Her prior occupation was as a General Manager for The News Enterprise, servicing the greater Orange County region. She also worked as a freelance reporter on various local assignments.

Laura was awarded the California Medal of Merit in 2009, which is one of the highest decorations in the State of California, awarded by the State to National Guard service members and civilians for exceptionally meritorious conduct.

To learn more about Honoring Our Fallen, visit their website and listen to her interview on the Just a Good Conversation podcast.