Scholarship fund takes flight in honor of fallen Valley soldier

Brody Schmidt wears army tags honoring his nephew U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Suresh Krause.

He says, “It gives me and the rest of the family an opportunity to always have him near and dear to our hearts.”

A memorial service for Krause will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, at Forest Lawn in Cathedral City. A service with full military honors will follow at Desert Memorial Park.

“It’s going to be a coming together of a lot of friends and family to pay tribute to our hero,” said Schmidt.

Schmidt says it will be a celebration of the life of the fallen soldier, a Cathedral City High School graduate. The entire Coachella Valley is invited.

“Suresh was a public servant. I’m sure he would like the public to honor him as that public servant,” said Schmidt.

It’s been nearly two weeks since our country lost its public servant and six others who were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

Now, with a simple click of a mouse, Schmidt hopes to carry on Krause’s work.

The family is teaming up with Jessica’s Hope Project, a non-profit that honors and sends care packages to active soldiers. The organization sent Krause his last package in May.

Through the organization, the family created the Suresh Krause Scholarship Fund.

“Why do it? Because Suresh had a passion for flying. Because he achieved his dream.”

The foundation is set out to give aviator hopefuls around the world a chance to fly.

“Although he gave back on the battle field, this is his way of giving back to those idividuals, male or female or regardless of where they where they’ve come from,an opportunity to pursue a passion just like he did,” said Schmidt.

The family wants bring to life the dreams of others and hold on to Suresh’s legacy here in the desert.

“This has been his home regardless of where school or the military or the army took him. This was always home base for him.”

If you’d like to donate to the Suresh Krause Scholarship Fund, go to jessicashopeproject.org
Money orders and checks can be sent to:

Jessica’s Hope Project
1779 Paloma Street Pasadena, CA 91104

Write “Suresh Krause” in the memo line. All donations will be tax deductable.