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Community Corner

Authors Join Forces To Support TAPS

Retired pilot and political columnist donate a portion of their royalties to non-profit.

Retired Marine Corps Harrier pilot Michael Franzak and political columnist S.E. Cupp came together to raise funds and awareness for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) during a book signing on Sunday at Book Revue.

TAPS, a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994, helps family members, casualty officers and caregivers deal with the loss of a loved one in military service in America.

Franzak, who served 17 years in the military, said that TAPS is a frontline resource for families of our fallen military men and women.

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"TAPS helps with funeral arrangements, grief counseling, case-work assistance and peer-based emotional support," Franzak said. "It is a 24/7 tragedy assistance resource and I will be donating a portion of my royalties earned from the sale of my new book, A Nightmare's Prayer. This is a memoir, which portrays the realities of war in Afghanistan as I was deployed in 2002 and 2003 as an AV-8B Marine Corps Harrier Pilot who served as an executive officer of VMA-513."

Franzak explained that his book addresses combat, love, sacrifice and fear. He added that he didn't know what would happen in Afghanistan so he kept a journal which turned into this new book.

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"I decided that I wanted to do good after I came home from Afghanistan and then I found TAPS," Franzak said. "Many veterans are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and they need help. One friend that I helped in Afghanistan came home and one year later committed suicide. I realized that TAPS is really there when tragedy strikes and it does not forget."

East Northport resident and Conservative Society for Action member Laura Prochaska brought her 3-year-old toy poodle Buffy dressed in patriotic garb to show her support for Franzak and his new book.

"I am very interested in his book and we need to know more of what is going on in Afghanistan," Prochaska said. "I support the troops and TAPS."

Ten-year-old Travis Caporuscio and his 5-year-old brother James Caporuscio, both of Plainview, each tried on fighter pilot helmets while their parents purchased a signed copy of Franzak's book.

"This is really cool," Travis said.

While Cupp was publicizing her new book, "Losing Our Religion," which is about the liberal media's attack on Christianity, she decided to take more of a backseat to Franzak during the speaking portion of the event. However, she said she is a big supporter of the cause.

"I am in full support of Franzak and I am a supporter of TAPS," said Cupp, who currently has an ongoing column in the Daily News. "It is a great charity to support and I hope a lot of Franzak's books are sold so funds can be given to TAPS. Today, I am here to listen to what Franzak has to say and I will not be speaking."

Franzak added that he was not really a praying man, but when he was 20,000 feet over the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan he did pray.

"I prayed when I heard the muted cries of men who at last understood their fate," Franzak said. "This is why TAPS is so important, it's a free service that supports the survivors of our fallen heroes."

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