Three years ago today - August 25, 2009, CPT John Hallett was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb, along with CPT Cory Jenkins, SFC Ronald Sawyer, and PFC Dennis Williams. CPT Hallett's wife Lisa had just given birth to their third child, a daughter, three weeks before. In the aftermath of that devastation, she began running as a way to cope with her grief. Within months, she started wear blue: run to remember as a way to connect with others going through the same thing and to honor her husbands memory. Over the last few years, it's grown and the sea of blue is spreading. It's a way to remember those that were lost, honor those still fighting and support the families of all of them. It's also a way for people like me to recognize and connect with the military as a community member, to support their sacrifice and really see what these families go through and give up in service to our country.
Yesterday, August 24th, would have been the 15th wedding anniversary of another military widow, Kryste, that I met through friends and WB. She lost her husband CW3 Frank Buoniconti last December and I've gotten to know her a bit since then and her courage in moving through her grief has been inspiring and brutally honest. She is raw and completely open with her day to day thoughts on Facebook and her blog. She wrote a beautiful post that I know she wouldn't mind me sharing....Kryste's extraordinary strength is inspiring.
CW3 Frank Buoniconti, was killed in a training exercise on December 12, 2011. CPT John Hallett was killed by an IED in Afghanistan on August 25, 2009. Both are survived by their wives and children.
I will be running my (unfortunately short) run today in honor of both of these men and their sacrifice. The legacies of these men can also be honored monetarily for those interested. Kryste has started a foundation in Frank's name LiveYourLoveLoud. This foundation, in her own words:
"I am starting a nonprofit in Frank's honor and to continue the work and passion that made us who we were as a team. LiveYourLoveLoud will be for orphan care AND prevention,funding water projects,HIV/AIDS prevention & treatment in Africa, helping widows/single mothers,adoption grants for military families and other projects to help serve the people of the world who deserve clean water, food, health care, education and a chance to grow up and be world changers in their own villages & countries."
You can support Kryste and her efforts here.
You can honor the legacy of CPT John Hallett by donating to wear blue: run to remember. You can read more about this amazing organization (that I proud to be a part of) here.
To John and Frank - today I will run in honor of you and the wonderful families you have left behind, who carry on and remember you in every way they can. You will not be forgotten.
1 comment:
Great post!
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