Meet Laura Herzog of Honoring Our Fallen in Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Herzog.

Laura, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My life forever changed on the 10th of November 2009. I was working at a local military base and was called to serve the family of Lance Corporal Justin Swanson, 21 of Anaheim California that had just been killed in Afghanistan.

The seed was planted that day for Honoring Our Fallen, we are daily supporting families of our nations fallen.

As an organization, we have served 721 casualty missions in our eight years of history and have served thousands of families nationally through all of our programs and services.

Dying a hero means a life lived in service. So many exceptionally brave men and women have served our country throughout the decades and too many have fallen in action or directly related to their service.

These fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. These fallen warriors served with honor, dedication, and distinction. They deserve to be honored and remembered; it is their service and sacrifice that guarantees our home remains safer and our world a better place.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not been a smooth road. It has been a roller coaster. Many ups and downs, days “closed” for maintenance and a constant system and organization with checks and balances.

We serve families on the darkest day of their life and we have an obligation and responsibility to do what we can to support them during the services and to provide opportunities for continued support and care.

Please tell us about Honoring Our Fallen.
Honoring Our Fallen is not like other Veterans support services in place right now. We provide support for Families of Our Fallen specifically during the Transfer of Dignified Remains.

​Our support comes in directly after the Next of Kin (NOK) notification. As soon as we find out that a loved one is returning home for burial, we immediately determine the family’s needs and requests.

We have established relationships with local airport police and operations, Patriot Guard members, local law enforcement and firefighters to ensure the Fallen Hero receives support during the dignified arrival and funeral services with military honors. We also strive to link organizations who provide other support services – counseling, financial support, housing assistance, etc. – with Families who need it.

​Every situation is different and every family is different — but they are all Heroes — and deserve proper respect during the most difficult time of their lives.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Moving from the mountains to the beach. I feel the most at peace at the sea, hearing the waves crashing to the shore is my happy place.

Contact Info:

• Address: 12111 Saint Mark Street
  Garden Grove, CA 92845
• Website: www.honoringourfallen.org
• Phone: 714-904-0253
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honoringourfalleninc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honoringourfallen/
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/LauraHerzogHOF

Image Credit:
Suzanne Hopkins, Laura Herzog

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