When duty calls, these individuals are proud to lay their lives on the line for our country and respond to the challenge. Their frequent deployments require difficult and heartbreaking goodbyes. Families can never be sure their husband, father, brother or son will return safely or return at all from dangerous places in distant lands. These stressful separations are the daily reality of the Army Rangers and their families. When asked to fight, this fraternity of brothers will not hesitate to defend their country, with many making the ultimate sacrifice. These heroes are warriors who fought the battle and now rest in the hands of God. Sadly, this tragic story is often repeated within the Ranger community leaving many spouses and children of these fallen heroes to fend for themselves.

The majority of U.S. Army Rangers are from small town America, many from backgrounds of modest means. Most active duty Rangers are the sole providers within the family unit, and the average Ranger income does not allow for a financial cushion if tragedy befalls them. As a result, Rangers generally do not have sufficient resources to provide for their families if they are killed or disabled. While the U.S. Army recognizes the Rangers as an elite group of soldiers and provides as much support as possible in times of tragedy, the need often exceeds the available resources provided by the military and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Families of the fallen or disabled are left behind with an immediate and ongoing need to meet the financial obligations of everyday life. The Lead the Way Fund was established to help ease these financial burdens and to help these families adjust to the realities of their new lives. By working in collaboration with U.S. Special Operations Command Care Coalition (USSOCOM) in identifying the needs of the Ranger and his dependents, we are assured that all funds are distributed fairly and compassionately, with an administrative trail allowing us to follow-up on the results of awarded funds.

The patriots whom we honor through the Lead the Way Fund are men who love their country. They are men who put others before themselves. They are men who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so that we and our families may enjoy the freedoms and privileges that come with living in this great country. Our nation will continue to produce young men with all of these admirable qualities. They will leave their small towns to serve, and they will stand up for us and risk life and limb. Through the Lead the Way Fund we will, in turn, be there for them in their time of need.