Our History
Since its founding in 2015, Children of Fallen Heroes has proudly served over 14, 500 children, providing hope, healing, and opportunity to families of fallen heroes.
Our mission is to honor their legacy by offering resources, financial aid, and emotional support to children who have lost a parent in service.
Join us in making a difference for those who have given so much.
Ken Wasley's Personal Journey
Since its founding in 2015, Children of Fallen Heroes has proudly served over 14,500 children, providing hope, healing, and opportunity to the families of fallen military heroes, first responders, and communities in need. The organization’s mission is deeply personal to its founder, Ken Wasley, whose life has been shaped by a legacy of service, sacrifice, and resilience.
Ken’s journey began with the tragic loss of his father, Sergeant Michael Wasley, a member of the Gold Team of the U.S. Army Parachute Team. In 1973, Sergeant Wasley, along with fellow Gold Team members, lost his life in a devastating plane crash while serving his country. This moment forever changed Ken’s family and instilled in him a lifelong commitment to honoring the fallen and supporting their families.
Reflecting on his own childhood, Ken shares, “As a child, we didn’t have the kind of support to help us through the loss of a parent. Back then, we just 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 to ensure that no child experiencing a similar loss would feel the way I did—isolated and unsupported. Knowing what I went through, I see the profound impact this kind of help could have made in my life, and I’m dedicated to providing that for children in need today.”
Through Children of Fallen Heroes, Ken hopes to turn pain into purpose, creating a lasting legacy of care and empowerment for the next generation.
Judy Wasley Kraft’s life is a story of strength, compassion, and enduring service.
Originally from Japan, Judy experienced profound loss early in life. While carrying her own grief, she found purpose in caring for children in an adoption home—preparing meals, tending to daily needs, and offering comfort to those who had also experienced loss. Even in hardship, service became her way forward.
After the death of her first husband, Sergeant Michael Wasley, Judy raised two young children on her own—Ken and a baby daughter. In a season marked by grief and responsibility, she became both mother and protector, choosing stability, love, and perseverance for her family.
That same commitment to others followed her throughout every chapter of her life. Judy fed soldiers during the holidays, supported families and patients through cancer centers, and consistently gave her time and care to her community. She never sought recognition; caring for others was simply how she lived.
Later, she remarried Sergeant Major James Walter Kraft, who embraced her children as his own and stood beside her in building a family grounded in integrity, service, and love.
While raising her children and serving those around her, Judy showed what resilience truly looks like—not as an idea, but as a daily practice. The values she lived—compassion, perseverance, and selfless care for others—continue to shape the heart of Children of Fallen Heroes.
Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the family she raised, and the mission that carries her spirit of service forward.
Sergeant Major James Walter Kraft’s life is defined by service, honor, and unwavering devotion to family.
A decorated Vietnam War veteran, Sergeant Major Kraft was awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars for his bravery and commitment to duty. His leadership extended far beyond military service and into the life he chose to build at home.
A stepfather in name only, he earned the title of father through love, presence, and responsibility. He chose commitment over convenience, raising children not bound to him by blood, but by care, guidance, and heart.
For nearly 50 years, he has stood steadfastly beside his wife, building a family grounded in integrity, service, and perseverance. His strength was quiet and consistent—shown through loyalty, sacrifice, and the daily choice to show up.
His legacy is a testament to the truth that fatherhood is defined not by origin, but by action. Through a lifetime of service to both country and family, Sergeant Major James Walter Kraft leaves behind an enduring example of what it truly means to be a father.
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.
The loss of Ken’s nephew Dylan and his grandfather, Sergeant Michael Wasley, was a deeply profound moment that became a cornerstone in expanding
Dylan, a gifted chef with a passion for cooking nurtured by his grandmother, and Sergeant Michael Wasley, a dedicated serviceman whose strength and sacrifice exemplified honor, continue to inspire everything we do. Their legacies will live on through the Children of Fallen Heroes Retreat and STEM+Arts Education Center, a transformative sanctuary located on 82 acres in Moore County, NC.
This dedicated space will provide healing, creativity, and growth for children of fallen heroes, foster kids, Title One students, and caregivers. While the Wasley family bloodline may end here, the spirits of Dylan and Sergeant Michael Wasley endure—woven into every act of service that touches lives and sparks hope.
Through serving others, we honor the sacrifices and legacies of Dylan, Sergeant Michael Wasley, and those who came before us. By carrying their light forward with love, compassion, and purpose, we build a legacy of hope that will inspire generations to come.
50 Years Later: A Sacred Return
March 8, 1973 – March 8, 2023
On the 50th anniversary of the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 14 members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights, Children of Fallen Heroes returned to the very field where it all happened.
There was no media.
No fanfare.
Just family.
This private remembrance was created to honor the fallen with dignity and love. The Silk Hope Fire Department quietly cleared the overgrown land, transforming it into a place of reverence—a true Field of Dreams.
Together, the CFH Parachute Team and the Golden Knights Tandem Team took to the skies. Paraclete Aviation generously provided the aircraft, and surviving family members made tandem jumps—joined by those who lost fathers, a grandfather, and brothers in that very crash.
This was not for the cameras.
This was for the legacy.
A moment of healing.
Of unity.
Of grace rising from grief.
We did not do this for headlines.
We did it for the ones who never came home.
And for the families who will carry their names forward for generations.
We remember.
We honor.
We rise.
