When our country's soldiers, sailors and Marines die or are disabled in the line of duty, their families are compensated for the loss - to a degree. Down the road, however, hovers the specter of college tuition. For many children who have lost a breadwinner in the armed forces, scholarships are the only means to a higher education.

Brentwood resident Mike Ketchel saw the need and did something about it. The America First Foundation he founded and chairs raises money for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund that supports children left behind by our nation's fallen heroes.

The fund has raised nearly $8 million nationwide to provide college or vocational scholarships to those children. Established 17 years ago by retired USMC Lt. Col. Oliver North, the fund is managed through an organization called the Freedom Alliance.

The upcoming Freedom Run event, scheduled for Aug. 25 in Discovery Bay, will feature the inaugural Joey Graves 10K Memorial Run and 5K Freedom Run, a Freedom Car and Motorcycle Show, and a Liberty Kids Dash.

Earlier in the week, on Aug. 20, Discovery Bay resident Kevin Graves will stage the inaugural Joey Graves Memorial Golf Tournament in honor of his son Joey, who was killed in Iraq last year. The tournament will establish the Joey Graves Leadership Fund, which America First will use to help send local high school students to the Freedom Alliance Leadership Academy.

Beneficiaries of the scholarships make good on America First Foundation's hard work and generosity. Sarah Sebring's father, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Larry Sebring, was killed at the age of 24 when his C-131 transport plane crashed. Sarah is a recent Magna Cum Laude graduate of Mary Washington College in Virginia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. Today, she is working toward her doctorate in Biology at Virginia Tech.

For Sarah, the Freedom Alliance scholarship grant "has helped my dream become a reality. This scholarship is very different from any other scholarships I've applied for or received in my life and I believe that's because it's allowing me to honor my father and all the other men who gave their lives for our country."

A duo of scholarship recipients, sisters Shannon and Corinne Snell of Vista, Calif. are the daughters of Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran and highly decorated U.S. Marine Master Sgt. Joe Snell, who served in the Marines for 21 years. Snell was killed in action when his UH-1 helicopter crashed during a training mission. Shannon was only 6 and Corrine 9 when they lost their father.

Shannon is currently a Humanities and Arts major at the University of California, Irvine. Corrine is a sophomore at Mueller College, studying to be a massage therapist. "My father would be very proud of me today if he were still alive," wrote Shannon to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, "and I am so grateful that even through his passing, he is able to contribute to the continuation of my education."

U.S. Army Maj. Geoffrey Sherrill, a physician, was killed in a helicopter accident when his daughter Monica was only 10. Monica is now a junior majoring in Early Childhood Education at Villa Julie College. "Your generosity," Monica wrote to the Fund, "will make it possible for me to have the opportunity of obtaining a quality education."

Leonard Nowcid Jr. of Elmer, N.J. is a recent graduate with a bachelor's degree in communications from Rowan University. Leonard's father, Master Gunnery Sgt. Leonard Nowcid, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is 100-percent permanently disabled.

"I am thankful, and will never forget, the great help that Freedom Alliance has given me in paying for my college tuition over the past four years," wrote Leonard. "Look at me as an example of just one student that has benefited from Freedom Alliance and think about how many others there are just like me."