A Veteran's Legacy Lives On
- Panhandle Warrior Partnership
- Aug 27
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 3
On July 23, 2025, 20-year Army veteran Thomas passed away, leaving behind his 17-year-old daughter, Ashlee. Her mother, Maria, was left unsure of how she would manage her daughter’s future.
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With the help of Panhandle Warrior Partnership case coordinator Rufus and a local Veterans Service Officer, Maria learned that children of deceased veterans were eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), education assistance, and health coverage.
Through the process, Ashlee was able to secure monthly DIC payments to help with household expenses, as well as Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits for her future schooling. Knowing that her daughter would one day have financial support for college lifted a huge burden from Maria’s shoulders.
“These benefits aren’t just financial help,” Maria shared. “They gave us hope, stability, and the chance for Ashlee to build the future her father dreamed of for her.”
Names have been changed for anonymity
