Folds of Honor Supports Military Families
Claudia Sweger says she has been happily married to her college sweetheart, Ronny Sweger, for 16 years. They live in Salina, OK with their 5-year-old triplet sons, Briggs, Brett and Brooks, where Claudia teaches middle school math and special education. Ronny was on the Special Forces A-team in Afghanistan, where he earned two Purple Hearts. He also returned with traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other illnesses.
The Swegers became the recipients of a Folds of Honor Future Use Scholarship for their sons in 2009. “When we received the letter notifying us the boys had received the scholarship, we were beyond excited and grateful,” Claudia said.
The Folds of Honor Foundation provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of military veterans who have been disabled or killed in action. This month, the foundation will be holding the 3rd annual Patriot Cup at Patriot Golf Club in Owasso on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012 with proceeds benefiting Folds of Honor. There will be a gala at 6 p.m. at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, featuring Rascal Flatts.
Claudia said that Ronny battles an extremely high stress level every day. In addition, he has constant pain and headaches as a result of his injuries. “By knowing the boys had the future use scholarship, it took some of the financial stress off of my husband,” she said, “and we could finally focus on his rehabilitation from the injuries he sustained in combat.”
As a 15-year veteran teacher, Claudia knows the value of an education. “I know the value of this scholarship,” she said. “It is more than college tuition; it is providing healing and peace of mind for my husband and a future for my children, and for many other military families. By easing some of the financial burden these families feel,” she added, “they can focus on the healing process.”
Claudia shared the following poem and thoughts:
One Hundred Years From Now (excerpt from “Within My Power” by Forest Witcraft)
One Hundred Years from now It will not matter what kind of car I drove, What kind of house I lived in, how much money was in my bank account nor what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a better place because I was important in the life of a child.
“This poem has meant so much to me as a teacher and now through the Folds of Honor Foundation and the Future Use Scholarship it brings about a whole new meaning to my heart,” Claudia said. “I would like to say thank you to the Folds of Honor Foundation for making the world a better place and for being an important part in the lives of my children!”
