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PDS Optical Proudly Sponsors TAPS 2026 Honor Guard Gala

PDS Optical will serve as a Freedom Sponsor of the TAPS annual gala honoring surviving military families.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.— March 10, 2026 — PDS Optical, a leader in high-quality and affordable eyewear for Veterans, is proud to announce its commitment as a Freedom Sponsor, donating $10,000 to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) for the 2026 TAPS Honor Gala. This premier event is dedicated to honoring the men and women who have died in service to the United States and supporting the families they left behind.

Since its inception, TAPS has provided compassionate care and comprehensive resources to more than 100,000 grieving military loved ones. As a Freedom Sponsor, PDS Optical joins a group of organizations dedicated to ensuring that these families receive peer-based emotional support, grief support, and casework assistance at no cost.

Our mission at PDS Optical has always been about serving our nation’s military and Veteran community with pride, dignity, and service,” said Sean Loosen, CEO of PDS Optical. “By partnering with TAPS, we are supporting a vision of hope and healing for our nation’s surviving military families. It is a profound honor to stand behind those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

The 2026 TAPS Honor Guard Gala

The annual gala brings together military leadership, public officials, and corporate partners to celebrate the lives of fallen heroes and their families. The 2026 event will feature the TAPS Honor Guard as a tribute to the courage and legacy of the fallen, alongside heartfelt survivor presentations sharing stories from families impacted by TAPS programs. The evening will also include community recognition awards for individuals and organizations showing extraordinary commitment to the TAPS community.

We are deeply grateful to PDS Optical for standing with our surviving military families as a Freedom Sponsor of the 2026 TAPS Honor Guard Gala,” said Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of TAPS. “Their generosity helps ensure that when a family receives heartbreaking news, they are met with immediate compassion, peer support, and practical help, and that they never have to walk this journey alone.

How PDS Optical Supports the Military-Connected Community

This isn’t the first time PDS Optical has supported a military or Veteran-connected non-profit. Last year, they sponsored a Lone Eagle Honor Flight Trip, bringing 48 Louisville Veterans who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam to D.C. to visit their memorials. Supporting TAPS is just the next step in their continued commitment to supporting our nation’s heroes.

About PDS Optical: Founded in 1998, PDS Optical is a leading provider of high-quality prescription eyewear to Veterans enrolled in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. Headquartered in Louisville, Ky., PDS Optical is a service-disabled, Veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) dedicated to serving our nation’s Veterans with pride, dignity, and exceptional service. Learn more at pdsoptical.com.

About TAPS: TAPS is the leading national nonprofit organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to all those grieving the death of a military loved one through peer-based emotional support, connections with grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children and teens, casework assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups, and the 24/7 National Military Survivor Helpline. Services are provided at no cost to surviving families. For more information and to get involved, visit TAPS.org.

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