CLEVELAND — The cost of education can be a burden on any family. Folds of Honor is helping Gold Star families with the bill.
In 2014, Tiffany Eckert’s son Myles found a $20 bill in a restaurant parking lot. He offered to pay for a soldier’s meal. His note to the soldier became a viral sensation.
“Myles was just, from the second he walked in, laser focused,” Eckert said. “Finally, I was like ‘Hey bud, what’s going on?’ He goes, ‘Mom, you’re going to have to tip the waitress because I’m going to buy that guy’s lunch.’”
Eckert’s husband, Andy, was killed while serving oversees. The family is now fulfilling their promise to him and continuing their education goals. (Ryan Schmelz/ Spectrum News 1)
The act of kindness wasn’t without motivation. Myles’ father, Andy, died in combat when Myles was just a few weeks old. He was never able to see his two children grow up. But Tiffany was determined to keep his memory alive.
“The day that he was deployed for the first time, he was distraught, beside himself that our unborn child wasn’t going to know who he was,” said Eckert. “In that moment when he was living, I promised him that no matter what, our child would know who he was.”
She said the last conversation she had with her husband was one of the big reasons she eventually got involved with Folds of Honor. Tiffany said Folds of Honor’s mission lined up perfectly with what Andy wanted.
“The last conversation that I had with Andy, which was within hours of his death, he had called home and he said many things to me, and our last portion of our conversation was centered around how he thought I was the smartest person (who) he’d ever met in his entire life and that I needed to, no matter what, no matter how long it took, I needed to get an education, and our kids needed to get an education and our children needed to be educated,” said Eckert.
Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted was a sponsor of the fundraising concert.
“The fact that they focus on education, which is so hugely important, and you know the cost of education is more expensive than it’s ever been and it’s only becoming more so,” said Doug Horner from Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted. “To be able to help send these kids to college, pay for that, give them that scholarship, that way, they can pursue whatever dreams and passions they may have, that’s what makes it so special.”
Air Force veteran Dennis Tisza said he knows the struggles many Gold Star families can face. He said the scholarships can go a long way in taking care of families and providing better opportunities.
“We had some people who had some unfortunate outcomes and you see what happens to these families and realizing that the government’s not there to take care of them, their loved one’s no longer there to provide for the family, and one of the greatest things in my heart that I believe is best for everybody is education,” said Tisza.
Isaiah Maring is the CEO of the Patriot Parachute Team. He said he’s happy to support Gold Star families at events like this one.
“For me, if something were to ever happen to me, I would hope there would be an organization or there would be guys out there that would want to take care of my family,” said Maring, a former Navy Seal. “If I can do that now for others that didn’t come home, that paid the ultimate sacrifice, that’s my mission and I’d love to do that.”
Eckert said she’s planning to graduate college and both of her kids are also continuing their education, all three of them on Folds of Honor scholarships, fulfilling a request made by Andy years ago.
She said she continues to fight for families overcoming unthinkable tragedies and hopes others won’t take our loved ones for granted and will enjoy every minute they have together.
“Don’t feel sorry for us, but think of us the next time one of your kids asks you to read a book or go throw a ball in the yard or asks you to spend time with them. Work can wait. Whatever is going on can wait,” said Eckert. “You can set those things aside and, in honor of Marlee and Myles who of all of us have lost the most, and in honor of Andy who would have been the best dad, go and do what’s being asked of you.”
For more information on the concert and ticket information, click here.
