Savannah Brown is the surviving daughter of U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Adam Brown, who was KIA in Afghanistan on 03/17/2010 while serving with the Naval Special Warfare Command.
Hi everyone! My name is Savannah Brown, and I am a junior at the University of Arkansas Honors College. I am currently a double major in Criminology and Sociology with a minor in Legal Studies. My passion is offering help to individuals that are not in a position to help themselves. I dream of going to law school after I finish my undergraduate studies and eventually becoming either a lawyer or an FBI agent.
I always knew in the back of my mind that I wanted to go to Arkansas because even before I became a student here, I was a huge Razorbacks fan. My father was quite possibly one of the largest fans that Arkansas football could have. I remember watching the games with him and not knowing anything about football, but loving it anyway because I could see his passion for it. My father was a Navy SEAL on SEAL Team Six who was killed in action on March 17, 2010. The loss of my father carries a weight that is too large to describe in words. He was my best friend, and although I didn’t get to see him very often, when he was home he made sure to show me how much he loved and cared for me. My favorite memory that I have with him is our last daddy-daughter date that we had before he passed. I had begged him to let me get my ears pierced, and even though he didn’t want me to grow up, he told me he would take me because he wanted to be the one who was there when I got them done.
As a child, it is hard to understand why your father will suddenly not be around for the rest of your life. It is hard to witness your brother longing for someone to throw the ball with him or to teach him how to grill. And it is hard to witness your mom lose the person she believed she would grow old with. However, I find peace in my heart knowing that he did not die in vain. My father was one of the most selfless, charismatic, and determined people I knew, and I can say without a doubt that giving his life for his country is something he was proud to do. He always said that he wanted to have a part in making the world a better place for his family, and I can confidently say he did. Special Operations Warrior Foundation has not only recognized the tremendous hole he has left in my life but has been there every step of the way to offer support and guidance. Because of the support I have received from this Foundation, I have been able to go to college completely free of the worry of finances.
Even before I became a college student, I was continuously reached out to by SOWF team members for emotional and scholarly guidance. When I mentioned that I was going to be doing an internship in Washington, D.C., SOWF members were one of the first people to congratulate me and were quick to offer me financial support for housing and living expenses so I could solely focus on what I would be learning. This past summer, I attended their Strong Finish Optimization Conference in Tampa, Florida. Not only were the lodging and airfare completely free, but I was greeted by many faces that were there simply because they believe in the cause and have a genuine desire to provide help for me and the other children. While I was there, I learned so many things that I need for my future career, and I am so grateful for everything that they have done for me. It is the people within SOWF and the organization as a whole that remind me why my dad was so proud to serve his country because he knew there was an organization like SOWF that would help guide me through life.
