Gate to Gate

At a time when most people were still in bed this holiday morning, more than 1,800 of my closest friends and I were lined up ready to walk, run, and stroll 4.4 miles in the 27th annual Gate to Gate Memorial Day event at Eglin Air Force Base.

My friend Pia and I have been walking the last two months prepping for the event, and hoped to finished in under one hour:20 minutes. Runners left the gate first, and once we reached the main road, the pack was almost stretched out the entire length of the route.

Less than a mile from the start was the Fallen Warrior memorial. Participants laid red and white carnations at the helmet and boots shrine.

Stations were set up at 1-mile intervals, offering ice water. Cups were dropped along the route. Volunteers followed behind clearing up our debris.

At the 3-mile marker, base firetrucks cooled down everyone with fire hoses.

On the final half mile, we saw a young mother about 50 yards ahead of us, pushing a stroller. She was our inspiration to work harder. We couldn’t come in behind a stroller! We crossed the finish at 1:01, nearly 20 minutes under our goal. The clock time was pacing the runners.

Pia and I are taking tomorrow off, to nurse sore muscles and blisters. But, we are already planning for the 2013 Gate to Gate. Next year, we’ll break that one hour mark.

Today and every day

Bright and very early Monday morning, several hundred friends and I will be participating in a 4.4 mile walk/run at Eglin Air Force Base near Niceville, FL.

The event, the 27th Annual Gate to Gate, is held every Memorial Day. I expect this one to be huge.

During the walk, I will stop at the Fallen Warrior memorial and say a silent prayer for the military members who died in service and whisper a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the soldiers and their families who have and are currently serving our country here and on foreign soil.

Both my father and father-in-law are veterans. My dad is former Navy, having served aboard the USS Forretstal in the Mediterranean during the late 1950s. My FIL, a retired Air Force Master Sgt., served for 25 years, including several tours in Vietnam.

I live in a military town… there are at least six installations – Air Force, Army, and Navy – all within an hour’s drive. My husband has worked in the defense industry his entire professional career.

My friend Pia and I have been walking together for the past two months in preparation. We hope to finish the course in under 1.5 hours. Her husband is also retired military. I expect the vast majority of participants are either military, spouses, or  friends. It’s a festive atmosphere, but it’s also a gathering of people who appreciate why we are all there.

Regardless of your opinion on our involvement in foreign wars, our military servicemen and women, deserve… have earned… our respect and gratitude. Tomorrow, and every day, we need to recognize that they are making the ultimate sacrifice for you, me, and those we love. When given the opportunity, tell a soldier, ‘thank you.’

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

~ John 15:13

Memorial Day: No greater love

Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 ~ aerial demonstration aboard NAS Pensacola

There are at least five military installations within a 60-mile radius from where I live – one Army fort, four Air Force bases and a Naval air station. To say this is a military town would be an understatement.

My father served in the Navy in the late 1950s aboard the USS Forrestal. My father-in-law was career Air Force retiring after 25 years of active duty, including several tours in Vietnam. Friends, neighbors and co-workers have all served, their families and spouses making sacrifices few civilians can comprehend.

I still get a thrill when I hear jets from the nearby air base fly over my house. I choke up during the singing of the National Anthem. I have paid the meal tab for uniformed members of our military when I’ve eaten out at local restaurants. I am in awe of what these men and women do on a daily basis.

Our service men and women deserve our respect and support, they have EARNED it day after day, months and years on end.

Freedom is not free. These men and women have given to their last to protect our freedoms. Thank a vet or active military member today, shake their hand, tell their children and spouses how much you appreciate them, and say a prayer for those military men and women who have lost their lives in service of this country.

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” ~ John 15:13