Welcome to a new episode of the 'Kurdistan in America' podcast, marking our twelfth and final episode of Season Four. We are honored to feature Ms. Bonnie Carroll, the president and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting families affected by military losses. As we approach the new year, we'd like to take a moment to extend our warm wishes to our audience for a joyous holiday season and a New Year filled with hope and positivity. Ms. Carroll, the surviving spouse of Brigadier General Tom Carroll, also served in the military, retiring as a Major in the US Air Force Reserve. In her earlier civilian career, she served three Presidents in senior policy positions in Washington, D.C., lobbied on Defense and Aerospace issues, and was posted in Baghdad, Iraq from '03 to '04 during Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Advisor to the Ministry of Communications. Her experiences in Iraq inspired a global network offering hope and healing to all those grieving a military loss. The connections she forged among widows and mothers of the Peshmerga and Iraqi Army laid the foundation for TAPS' research on supporting the enduring legacies of service and sacrifice—the families left behind. Ms. Carroll was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, the highest civilian recognition in the United States, in 2015. In this episode, Ms. Carroll shares her experiences in the U.S. military, her time in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the inspiration behind establishing TAPS International, and her perspectives on the Kurdish people. Join us on this enlightening journey as she shares her remarkable life story.