Children of the fallen: Scholarship fund aids those who lost parents in Iraq, Afghanistan

By Tony Reid

Herald & Review, Decatur, IL

Published Monday, January 28, 2008

DECATUR - Eight-year-old Lexie Gifford didn't have to say much to earn a thunderous round of applause on Sunday.

"I would just like to say thank you," she said, a broad smile on her face. "My daddy would be proud."

Lexie, the daughter of fallen Marine Jonathan Gifford, who died in action in the opening days of the Iraq War, had just received a $2,500 college scholarship from the new Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund.

The fund provides scholarships to the children of Illinois veterans killed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom or future conflicts.

The fund has been created in a partnership between Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth. They both came to Grace United Methodist Church, along with State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, to announce the scholarships and formally present one to Lexie. She was flanked by her mom, Vickey Shain, stepfather Brian, her maternal grandmother, Vicky Langley, and several members of Operation Enduring Support.

Duckworth, who gets around on two artificial legs after being shot down Iraq in 2004 while piloting a helicopter with the Illinois National Guard, said the scholarship would help give Lexie the future her father fought for. "Your dad, Lexie, gave the last full measure of devotion to this nation," added Duckworth.

Money for the scholarships is donated by Oppenheimer Funds, which manages the state's Bright Start college savings accounts, and the scholarships will be deposited into Bright Start accounts. But, so far, only 15 scholarships have been given, while the treasurer's office estimates more than 60 children of some 155 fallen veterans are eligible.

"If anyone knows a child who is eligible for a scholarship, please contact my office," said Giannoulias. "The sooner we can contact them to set up their account, the sooner the money is going to start growing."

Speaking afterwards, Duckworth said one huge challenge for the nation and its next president will be taking care of the wounded veterans who survive to come home again. She said one study projected that cost at $650 billion and counting.

"Nobody has really talked about this," said Duckworth, whose state-of-the-art legs cost $125,000. "And I am concerned that there is a cost to this war that has shifted to states and municipalities, and that is taking care of the veterans."