Those Who Served Foundation Gearing Up for Salute to Our Veterans Weekend

Captain Rick Roberts lost his 22-year-old son, Charlie in January of 2026. Charlie did not serve in the military, and his death was not service-related. But for a father, losing a child changes everything.

Rick has always had tremendous respect for America’s Gold Star families. After losing Charlie, however, he gained a personal understanding of grief he never wanted. “I know what it feels like to wake up and realize your child isn’t coming home,” Rick says. “I would never compare my loss to the unique sacrifice of a military family who lost someone serving our country. But I do understand the pain of losing someone you love and carrying that loss every day.”

That experience inspired Operation Charlie, named in honor of Rick’s son. TWSF has spent years serving Veterans and First Responders through fishing and boating experiences designed to provide healing, connection, and hope. Now, the organization plans to expand that mission to include Gold Star and Green Star families.

Operation Charlie will provide opportunities for these families to spend time together on the water—fishing, boating, watching dolphins, sharing stories, laughing, or simply enjoying a peaceful day away from the demands of everyday life.  It’s all about creating a place where families can breathe, reconnect, and make new memories. “We aren’t going to tell these families what they need,” Rick says. “We’re going to ask them what they want. If they want to fish, we’ll fish. If they want to ride and talk, we’ll ride. If they want to sit quietly and watch the water, that’s perfectly okay.”

For Rick, naming the program Operation Charlie makes the mission deeply personal. His memory will become part of something larger—a commitment to serve families who have experienced profound loss.

TWSF recognizes that when a service member makes the ultimate sacrifice, their family’s journey continues. The loss remains part of their lives, while their loved one’s memory becomes a legacy carried forward. Operation Charlie will require community support. TWSF relies on donations, sponsors, fundraisers, and volunteers to provide its programs at no cost to those it serves.

For supporters, this is more than funding a fishing trip. It is helping create a memory. A father and daughter sharing a fishing rod. Siblings laughing together. A family watching the sunset. A quiet moment on the water when, for just a little while, the weight becomes easier to carry.