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Some families leave a mark on history. Others quietly change the future. The Searby family is doing both.
At Dignitas Ukraine, we had the honor of working alongside the Searbys for our recent Charity Fundraiser — and we can say with full hearts: this event would not have been possible without them.
A Family United for a Cause
From the start, Bruce Searby poured his time, energy, and heart into helping us plan and organize every detail of the event — coordinating logistics and bringing his passion to every part of the process.
Bruce is an attorney based in Washington, D.C., but during this time, he was something more: a builder of bridges between worlds — peace and courage, past and future. He didn’t just support the cause — he became a vital part of our team.
Bruce was joined by his daughter Sophia Searby, who works in development at the National Cathedral School for Girls. Their presence brought warmth, sincerity, and a clear sense of purpose to the event.
Also attending were Bruce’s brother David Searby, a retired U.S. State Department foreign officer and current Rotary Club representative to the Inter-American Development Bank, and Daniel Searby, Jr., who works in C-Suite executive recruiting and brought thoughtful insights to the occasion.
Bruce’s sister Kate Searby, a granddaughter of General Edmund Wilson Searby, was also present, along with in-laws Kevin Coward and Martha Searby, adding to the strong family presence that anchored the event.
Even those who couldn’t attend showed up in spirit. Peter and Barbara Schmidt, Trish Smitson, Greg Shaffer, Pamela Shaffer, and others contributed generously, reminding us that this family’s strength lies not only in numbers — but in unity of purpose.
This wasn’t just a family showing up. This was a family standing up — for Ukraine, for children, and for the values they carry forward through generations.
Honoring the Past, Investing in the Future
But the Searby family’s involvement didn’t end with showing up or helping plan an event. Their commitment runs much deeper.
Beginning in 2024, brothers Dan, Dave, and Bruce Searby directed funding to Dignitas Ukraine to support an after-school robotics program for Ukrainian high school students — part of our Tech Explorers initiative. This support came through the Wapakoneta Foundation, founded by their mother, Joan Searby.
They named this effort the General Searby Fund, in honor of their grandfather, Brigadier General Edmund Wilson Searby, who was killed in action in 1944 during the liberation of France.
When he died, he left behind three young children — including Dan Searby, Sr. — and not enough resources to fund their education. Now, through this initiative, the Searby family is helping change that story for others.
The Story of Brigadier General Edmund Wilson Searby
Brigadier General Edmund Wilson Searby was one of only three U.S. generals killed in action during World War II — a distinction that speaks to his extraordinary courage and leadership.
He died on September 14, 1944, during the liberation of France, while leading his men on Mousson Hill, a strategic elevation above Pont-à-Mousson in northeastern France. This hill once held the Duke of Lorraine’s Preny Castle, a stronghold destroyed in 1636 by Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister of King Louis XIII, as punishment for Lorraine’s disloyalty to France.
Three centuries later, that same hill became a fiercely contested position during World War II. U.S. Army infantry had succeeded in taking the hill, but it remained vulnerable to counterattacks. It was there, in the heat of combat, that General Searby was struck by machine gun fire while firing his rifle at the open hatch of a counter-attacking German tank — fighting shoulder to shoulder with his troops on the front lines.
He died not behind a desk or in command from the rear, but in action — as a soldier among soldiers, embodying the very ideals of courage and leadership he believed in.
Remembered in France
In 2024, 80 years later, the local citizens of Mousson gathered to remember and honor General Searby’s sacrifice. A ceremony was held on that very hill, where his descendants — including Bruce, Sophia, Dan Jr., David, and Kate Searby — stood in his place, remembering the man whose legacy they now carry forward in support of another nation’s fight for freedom: Ukraine.
His story is one of sacrifice, valor, and enduring impact — a reminder that the values he gave his life for are still being defended today, across new borders and by new generations.
A Mission Rooted in Sacrifice
Today, the General Searby Fund exists to honor that sacrifice by investing in the future of others — Ukrainian students, especially those impacted by war, whether displaced from their homes or grieving the loss or injury of a parent.
The fund supports the values their grandfather stood for: democracy, freedom, and service.
It’s legacy in motion — a family honoring the past by investing in the future, and standing with Ukrainian youth in one of the most defining moments of their lives.
From All of Us at Dignitas Ukraine: Thank You
To the Searby family — your love, your legacy, and your leadership have become part of Ukraine’s story. Through your tireless efforts, heartfelt generosity, and unwavering values, you are helping rebuild lives and futures.
You are not only honoring your grandfather — you are living out his courage in real time.
💙💛 Thank you for walking this path with us. You are truly making history and giving hope.
