First Responder Focused Nonprofit Pays Off Mortgages Of Fallen TN Soldiers, Police Officer

Image Credit: Tunnel To Towers Foundation

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgages of a fallen Franklin Police Officer and five fallen soldiers from Tennessee.

A retired country music singer, Jeff Carson, who switched careers to be an officer with the Franklin Police Department, died of a heart attack leaving his family responsible for mortgage payments.  

During Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s ‘Never Forget’ concert, that took place at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, they announced that Carson’s mortgage would be paid off in addition to those of four fallen Tennessee soldiers.

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The concert, which featured performances by Brantley Gilbert and Old Dominion, hosted 750 first responder and military families.

When Carson passed away in March, he had just completed a recut version of a previously recorded song, “God Saved the World”, in the studio.

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Also during the ‘Never Forget’ concert, the foundation stated that the mortgages of Clarksville soldiers U.S. Army SPC Russell Shane Hercules Jr., U.S. Army SGT Louie Ramos and Army Sergeant First Class Ofren “AC” Arrechaga would be paid off, in addition to the mortgages of U.S. Army SGT William Bernard McKenna from Mount Juliet and USMC Captain Travis Walker Brannon from Nashville.

U.S. Army SPC Russell Shane Hercules Jr. from Clarksville, Tennessee was killed serving in Afghanistan in 2009. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart for his bravery and courageous deeds. He was just 22 years old.

U.S. Army SGT Louie Ramos from Clarksville, Tennessee died in May 2011 from injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit in Afghanistan. Ramos received several awards while serving, including the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, the Air Assault Badge, and the Parachutist and Pathfinder Badge(s).

He is survived by his wife, Yesenia, two children and a stepson.

U.S. Army SGT William Bernard McKenna, 41 from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, died three days after Christmas in 2010, losing his battle with T-cell Lymphoma. It was less than a year after he came home from his second and final tour in Iraq. 

USMC Captain Travis Walker Brannon from Nashville, Tennessee died in 2019 in a training accident. During his time served, he was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Brannon was 30 when he died. 

Army Sergeant First Class Ofren “AC” Arrechaga of Clarksville, Tennessee died in a small arms fire in 2011 in Afghanistan. Arrechaga, who was born in Cuba, served for 10 years and accumulated an abundance of awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and many others. 

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation states on their website, “Since 9/11, we have been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building custom-designed smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. We are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and aiding the victims of major U.S. disasters.”

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com

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