Two young adults whose fathers were killed in combat were recognized Tuesday morning during a special ceremony at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, where they each received a new, payment-free vehicle through the Driven to Serve program. The event, part of National Military Appreciation Month, was hosted by Freedom Alliance and U.S. Bank as a way to honor the sacrifices made by Gold Star families.
The students, both recipients of Freedom Alliance scholarships, lost their fathers in separate attacks in Afghanistan and have used that loss as motivation to honor their legacies through education and service.
“If Russell Madden and Chad Trimble were here, they would make sure their children had safe, reliable transportation as they pursued their education and launched their careers,” said Freedom Alliance President Tom Kilgannon, “Because they made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, it’s our honor to support and care for their families in this meaningful way.”
Micaela Trimble, of Clarksville, Tennessee, was just shy of 7 years old when her father, U.S. Army Private First Class Chad M. Trimble, was killed by an improvised explosive device two months into his deployment on May 28, 2008.
The first in his family to join the military, Chad Trimble didn’t get the chance to attend college — but always hoped his daughter would. Micaela fulfilled that hope when she graduated from Belmont University in 2023 with a degree in corporate communications and a minor in social media management.
Now a lead event planner at Bach to Basic, Micaela often travels for work and said owning a vehicle will not only make her job easier but also give her greater independence in her daily life.
“Having my own car would make it so much easier to get to those events without having to depend on someone else’s schedule,” she said. “It would help me keep a consistent gym routine, run errands, grocery shop, and spend more time with family and friends.”
Her long-term dream is to run her own event planning business — something she says is inspired in part by the resilience and determination she’s gained through loss.
Parker Madden, a freshman at Western Kentucky University, was just 5 when his father, U.S. Army Specialist Russell E. Madden, was killed in action during a rocket-propelled grenade attack on June 23, 2010.
Now studying history with a minor in pre-law, Parker is already thinking about ways to contribute to his community and uphold the values his father represented.
“It’s an honor for me to carry on my dad’s legacy and strive to embody the qualities that made him so special,” Parker said. “The values of loyalty, integrity, honor, respect, duty, commitment, teamwork, perseverance, and continuous self-improvement are not only lessons from my mom — they’re also how I choose to honor my father’s memory.”
The new vehicle comes at a critical time, as Parker begins seeking internships and building toward his career goals.
“Having my own car is a game-changer,” he said. “It opens doors to job opportunities that require reliable transportation and makes everyday life, like getting to appointments, so much easier.”
The vehicles are part of the ongoing Driven to Serve initiative, which has provided more than 85 vehicles to veterans and military families since 2018. More than 55 of those have been awarded in collaboration with Freedom Alliance, a nonprofit that also provides scholarships and other forms of support for military families.
U.S. Bank, which partners with Freedom Alliance on the initiative, also supports service members and veterans through its Proud to Serve program and currently employs more than 1,700 veterans across its national network.
Learn more about the program at freedomalliance.org.
