EL PASO, Texas -- It was difficult to talk about for the group of children gathered at Fort Bliss on Saturday, the death of a loved one.

Matthew Thigpen, 9, lost his brother, who was in the Army, to a motorcycle crash.

"Was driving home, because he was going to visit us for a week and he crashed," he said.

Thigpen is just one from the large group of children who share one thing in common: Someone in their family was a member of the military and has recently died.

"It's helping me by letting me talk to people about my feelings, because I know everybody has lost someone, and it's OK to cry because they know how you feel," Thigpen told KFOX.

It's part of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS, a seminar for adults is attached to a camp for children.

Children like 10-year-old Alana Hansen.

"My father died in Afghanistan," said Hansen.

As part of the camp, Hansen like all the other children, drew pictures of how their loved one who died, and where they are now. Her father died just a month and a half ago.

"I can talk to people and relate to people that have lost their family members that they really love," Hansen told KFOX.

The pictures are heartbreaking, but the notes they wrote can easily bring tears.

"I love you dad and I wish you were here," wrote on child. "I wish you were here right now."

The children tied the notes to balloons, to send to the ones they miss so much, who are all now up above in heaven.

The notes, the pictures, the talking about their feelings, all to help the young ones cope with something no child should have to deal with.

"My dad sacrificed his life for all of us in this world to be free," said Hansen.