U.S. & UK TAPS Families United Through Shared Sacrifices

Nov 07, 2025 at 12:12 PM

Craig Peters

Senior Editor

WARE, England — The connection is unique, and the hurt irreparable, but authentic appreciation means a great deal to families of fallen service members.

When the Vikings visited London in Week 5, the team hosted TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) families from the United States and the United Kingdom for a weekend that included tributes to fallen heroes, as well as connection-building and sightseeing experiences for survivors.

The group visited the Ministry of Defence Memorial, Wellington Barracks, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Tower of London on Friday, Oct. 3.

The following day, they were invited to Minnesota's day-before-game-walk-through at Hanbury Manor before visiting Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. Sunday presented the opportunity to attend the Vikings win over the Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Aaron Jones, Sr., his family and Vikings teammates welcomed the TAPS families to the walk-through session.

"The military is very near and dear to my heart. My father and mother served. My mother is right here. She served 27 years. My dad served 29 years," Jones told the guests as he became emotional. "As a family, you go through those hardships, as well. It's like you're serving. You're feeling the ups and downs. It's an honor to be here with you all."

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Sarah Hudson's ring fingernails featured a Union Jack (UK flag) pattern on her right and Stars and Stripes on her left. The latter represented the American flag that her younger brother Troy Linden signed up to defend.

Affectionately known as "Troy-Boy," the U.S. Army Corporal was born in Detroit Lakes and grew up in Rochert, Minnesota. Cpl. Linden played football through middle school before feeling the draw of the stage — through theater and performances in the Minnesota All-State High School Choir.

"He was funny. He had the biggest, cheesiest smile, and he loved music of all kinds — taught himself how to play guitar while he was in Iraq," Hudson said. "He was just a great kid with a big heart."

Cpl. Linden graduated from Detroit Lakes Senior High School in May 2002 a few years before Vikings receiver Adam Thielen suited up for the Lakers. He enlisted in the Army in May 2003, reporting to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Cpl. Linden then was stationed in Bamberg, Germany with the 54^th Engineer Battalion, 130^th Engineer Brigade. In October 2005, his unit deployed to Camp Ramadi in Iraq. While deployed, he shared his love of music, teaching another soldier to play guitar, helping the group through tough times.

It wasn't uncommon for soldiers to volunteer for shifts to help others. Cpl. Linden did so for a friend for a night route clearance mission, but while on patrol in the early morning hours of July 8, 2006, his RG-31 vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. The blast instantly claimed Cpl. Linden's life, as well as the life of Cpl. Joseph Micks. In the days that followed, Staff Sgt. Omar Flores and Sgt. Al'Kaila Floyd also passed away from their injuries.

Cpl. Linden, 22, was posthumously awarded multiple honors, including a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Hudson, also a graduate of Detroit Lakes, has honored her brother in a variety of ways and continues to drive his Jeep in parades.

Vikings fans through and through, her family was thrilled to meet Vikings that included Thielen, Jones, Carson Wentz, Andrew DePaola and Head Coach Kevin O'Connell.

"I wasn't expecting to see people from back home," Thielen said. "I appreciate being able to thank military families who have lost loved ones, especially when the family is from my hometown."

For Hudson and her family members who made the trip, it was another way to continue honoring a brother, son and uncle.

"Getting to see the London sites, the Ministry of Defence and laying roses for our fallen heroes was pretty powerful and meaningful, but this is really awesome to be part of the NFL and see the Vikings," Hudson said.

She also appreciated building connections with other TAPS families during the weekend.

"It's been really awesome to meet sisters who have lost their brothers similar to me and are in the UK," Hudson said. "Knowing that we're all part of a family we never wanted to be in, and now that family got even bigger with UK people in it, as well."

Efrem and Sharon Brynin from West Sussex, England, were among the UK families invited for the TAPS weekend in honor of their son, British Army Lance Cpl. James Brynin, who enlisted in February 2011 and deployed to Afghanistan for the first time in 2012. On Oct. 15, 2013, Lance Cpl. Brynin died from small arms fire in Helmand Province. He was recognized for acts of gallantry, and an award to recognize top trainees has been named in his honor.

"Not many amongst our friends and family has had an experience like we have," Efrem said. "It's very unique, so to meet other people who have is really priceless."

Sharon agreed, saying, "It's actually nice to hear the other people acknowledge your son has served their country and express gratitude, so actually being here is lovely — heartwarming."

Lance Cpl. Brynin represented Sussex County in soccer during his youth and readily accepted the duties of being on the front line of action.

"He loved his job, he loved his family," Efrem said. "We couldn't have brought both our children, both of whom served, to be nicer human beings, so I'd just like for people to remember his name and his sacrifice; what he did and who he was is so important."

Sharon said the conversations between the TAPS families were much appreciated.

"Losing a relative through service is different, and when you hear families talk about how they felt or what they're going through, it's still daily," she said. "Remembrance Day isn't one day a year. It's every day, and to hear other people talk about similar things makes you feel that you are part of something."

They find comfort in knowing their son's courage and shared sacrifice is sincerely appreciated.

"My wife and I speak about it a lot as the bereaved parents of someone who served, our son, you don't really know what you want," Efrem said. "There's nothing that you can ever get, but it's nice to have an acknowledgement and an appreciation, and I think that's what we've had today, an appreciation of the service and the sacrifice, which is probably all we could ever hope for."