Since its founding in 2015, Children of Fallen Heroes has proudly served more than 15,000 children and families, providing hope, healing, and opportunity to those impacted by the loss of a parent in service.
Our mission is to honor their legacy by delivering long-term resources, financial assistance, and emotional support—ensuring every child has the foundation to grow, thrive, and succeed.
Together, we are building a future where sacrifice is remembered, families are supported, and no child walks their journey alone.
Join us in making a lasting difference.
Our Story Begins With One Family
Behind every number is a name.
Behind every program is a story.
Behind this mission is a family who lived the loss before they ever built the solution.
For Children of Fallen Heroes, that story begins with founder Ken Wasley—whose life was shaped by sacrifice, resilience, and a promise made in childhood: that no child who loses a parent in service would ever feel alone.
What began as one family’s journey through grief has become a national movement of hope, healing, and opportunity.
Ken Wasley’s Journey
On March 8, 1973, Ken’s father, Sergeant Michael Wasley, a member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, was killed in a plane crash along with 13 fellow teammates while on temporary duty. That loss forever changed Ken’s family and became the foundation of his lifelong commitment to honoring the fallen and supporting their children.
Reflecting on his childhood, Ken shares:
“As a child, we didn’t have the kind of support to help us through the loss of a parent. We didn’t know what resources or understanding could make a difference. Growing up without that support shaped me in ways I couldn’t fully understand until much later. I made a commitment that no child experiencing this kind of loss would ever feel alone the way I did.”
Judy Wasley Kraft: A Life of Compassion
Originally from Japan, Judy experienced profound loss early in life. Even while carrying her own grief, she chose service. She worked in an adoption home, preparing meals, caring for children, and offering comfort to those who, like her, understood hardship.
After the death of her first husband, Sergeant Michael Wasley, she raised two young children on her own. In a season marked by uncertainty, she became both mother and protector—choosing stability, love, and perseverance.
Throughout her life, Judy quietly served others. She fed soldiers during the holidays, supported families through cancer centers, and gave her time wherever it was needed. She never sought recognition. Service was simply who she was.
Her resilience and compassion became the foundation upon which Children of Fallen Heroes was built. The values she lived—care for others, strength in adversity, and commitment to family—continue to shape the mission today.
Sergeant Major James Walter Kraft:
A Father by Choice
A decorated Vietnam War veteran, Sergeant Major James Walter Kraft exemplified honor, discipline, and quiet leadership. He was awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars for bravery and service to his country.
More than his medals, he earned his legacy through devotion to family. Though a stepfather in title, he chose to become a father through presence, guidance, and unwavering commitment.
He built his family on integrity, responsibility, and respect—showing that fatherhood is defined not by origin, but by action.
For nearly 50 years, he stood beside his wife, modeling loyalty and perseverance. His influence continues through the lives he shaped and the values he passed forward.
A Sister’s Strength: Resilience Through Healing
Ken’s sister, the daughter of Sergeant Michael Wasley, has shown quiet resilience after the tragic loss of her son Dylan, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2020.
Through grief, she found healing in Vaquero Horsemanship and Classical Riding, dedicating herself to private work with horses through her Together Training program. In that space, she discovered balance, trust, and a path forward.
Guided by a belief in equality and human rights, she values learning—especially about history and different cultures and religions—as a way to build understanding and compassion. Her journey reflects the healing and resilience that Children of Fallen Heroes strives to inspire in every family it serves.
Dylan: A Legacy That Expanded the Mission
In 2020, Ken’s nephew Dylan was killed by a drunk driver. His loss was deeply personal and profoundly transformative.
Dylan was a gifted chef with a creative spirit and a heart for people. His love of cooking, nurtured by his grandmother, reflected joy, curiosity, and connection.
His passing became a turning point—expanding the mission of Children of Fallen Heroes beyond military loss to also serve foster youth, caregivers, and Title One school communities. The vision grew: healing should not be limited by category, but guided by need.
Dylan’s legacy lives on through the Children of Fallen Heroes Retreat and STEM+Arts Education Center—an 82-acre sanctuary in Moore County, North Carolina, dedicated to growth, opportunity, and generational impact.
Through service, we honor his light by building spaces where children can rise.
50 Years Later: A Sacred Return
March 8, 1973 – March 8, 2023
On the 50th anniversary of the crash that claimed 14 members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Children of Fallen Heroes returned to the field where it happened.
There was no media.
No fanfare.
Only family.
The Silk Hope Fire Department quietly cleared the land, restoring it into a place of reverence—a true Field of Dreams.
The CFH Parachute Team and the Golden Knights Tandem Team took to the skies. Paraclete Aviation provided the aircraft. Surviving family members made tandem jumps alongside those who had lost fathers, brothers, and grandfathers.
This was not for cameras.
This was for legacy.
For healing.
For unity.
For grace rising from grief.
We did not do this for headlines.
We did it for those who never came home.
We remember.
We honor.
We rise.
