Florida: Father Launches Foundation to Honor his Fallen Navy SEAL Son

I had an opportunity to meet with Scott Bill, a Sarasota, Florida developer. Scott is the father of Brian, who decided he was going to serve the nation. Like all fathers Scott supported fully his son’s decision to join the Navy and enter the highly competitive Navy SEAL program. Throughout Brian’s military career Scott did everything he could to make sure his son and later his son’s family felt the love and received the respect they deserved.

Brian was no ordinary young man. Brian was a skilled fly-fisherman, skier and skydiver. He was an accomplished mountaineer with successful summits of Aconcagua in Argentina and Mount Elbrus in Russia. He had completed several marathons and obtained his commercial pilot’s license. He independently studied Russian and became fluent in French. He taught himself to play the piano and guitar.

Brain was different from most of us – he was a man of dreams and he made his dreams reality.

Brian was also a highly decorated combat veteran with numerous awards, including the Bronze Star Medal with Valor (4), including one for extraordinary heroism, Purple Heart Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, and numerous other personal and unit decorations.

Then on August 6, 2011 everything changed for Scott Bill.

His son Brian was on the fatal rescue mission in Afghanistan forever known as Extortion 17, the call sign of the helicopter Brian was on with 30 of his fellow Navy SEALs, special operations support personnel and National Guard flight crew. The saga of Extortion 17 goes on. However, for Scott Bill the real story is that of his son Brian and the families left behind.

Initially Scott reached out to the Navy SEAL community to see what he could do to help others like him who lost a loved one in service to the nation. He eventually became a spokesperson for the Navy SEAL Foundation and help them raise funds to support the families and orphaned children of fallen Navy SEALs. After doing this for over a year and a half, Scott decided that his mission was to help the families and orphaned children of Navy special operators and do so in his son Brian’s name.

Scott Bill’s vision is to open a home for these families in Key West, FL. To help do this he has launched the Brian Bill Foundation website. He applied nearly two years ago with the IRS for tax exempt status. He hopes to have his 501(c)3 soon. In the mean time he has already lined up friends in the Florida construction business who will donate their services to build this home, which will hold up to five families at one time.

All Scott needs are the funds to buy the land and set up a trust to maintain the home in perpetuity.

Scott is not letting grass grow under his feet. Like his son, Scott is mission oriented and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others.

We wish Scott well and hope this column and his efforts will gain the notoriety it deserves. For you see Brian is a real America hero.

As John 15:13 reads:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

God speed Scott. God bless to all the families of our fallen.

About The Brian Bill Foundation

The Brian Bill Foundation honors the legacy and service of fallen Navy SEAL Brian Robert Bill and his SEAL Teammates killed in action August 6, 2011 on Extortion 17 in the Tangi Valley, Afghanistan.The Foundation through its work and programs will support families of Navy Special Warfare.

Navy Special Warfare families can find comfort, support and healing at Brian’s House, the Foundation’s retreat house in the peaceful Florida Keys. Brian’s House programs allow families the space and freedom to connect with nature, forge relationships and learn the skills that their fallen fathers would have passed down to their children. Brian’s House can accommodate up to five families for swimming, diving, fishing, boating, sailing, camping, navigation, and other outdoor activities that foster independence, growth and the inter-connectedness of family and community.

The Brian Bill Foundation continues SOC/ SEAL Bill’s legacy by providing people from all walks of life with the opportunity to tap their own inner warriors: participate in a triathlon, scale Mount Everest, ride a bicycle 100 miles.

The Brian Bill Foundation is committed to helping others in their pursuit of spirit, courage, heart and tenacity. We’re looking for men and women who want to become a part of Brian’s story. Please help us continue Brian’s legacy by donating to the Brian Bill Foundation. Every donation helps us grow strong, confident people to change the world!

Tribute video to those on Extortion 17:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/VrK4wA_uRh0[/youtube]