EAST TROY, Wis., July 25 /EMWNews/ -- The Salvation Army

Camp in East Troy, WI, will be filled with children this week (July

28-August 2) singing camp songs, lining up for meals, fishing, canoeing,

learning archery and pellet gun shooting... and attending grief counseling

sessions. The unique thing about this camp is that the children will

accompanied by their parent/guardian so both can address the grief issues

involved with the line-of-duty death of their spouses/parents who were law

enforcement officers. Over 230 people will be attending the camp from all

across the nation.



    Concerns of Police Survivors, a national, grief support organization

serving over 15,000 surviving families of America's fallen law enforcement

officers, has been sponsoring this camp for 14 years. "We want to provide

these kids with the best summers of their lives and yet, have a positive

impact on how they rebuild their lives after the death of a parent. Our

camp presents an opportunity for the kids to meet other kids so they can

realize they aren't the only kids in the world having to deal with the

death of a parent," said Suzie Sawyer, Executive Director of C.O.P.S., and

the initiator of this camp.







    "Years ago, I attended C.O.P.S. Kids Summer Camp for my son, Matthew.

We attended camp for several years. Last year he 'graduated' because he

reached the age of 14. It was after camp last year that I realized how much

this camp helped me as well," said Yvette Wallace, Matt's mother. Matt and

Yvette are the surviving family of DEA Agent Frank A. Wallace, who was

killed in an aircraft accident in Peru on February 27, 1994. Matthew

Wallace was a toddler when his father was killed.



    This camp, planned for children ages 6-14, is one of several programs

Concerns of Police Survivors sponsors for law enforcement survivors.

C.O.P.S. anticipates costs for this healing camp to top $100,000.



    Surviving teenagers (ages 15-20) of fallen officers will be attending a

C.O.P.S. sponsored Outward Bound(R) experience during the same time frame

as this camp. Throughout the year, C.O.P.S. also hosts retreats for

parents, siblings, spouses, adult children, and fiances/significant others

of fallen officers.



    Surviving spouses and children will be available for interviews during

the week. Visit http://www.nationalcops.org for more information on the

organization.