If you have been reading this blog, you know that STEPS to HONOR is not just about our fallen heroes. We are honoring those that are currently serving as well as our veterans. We are honoring our military, as well as our law enforcement officers and our firefighters. Because Memorial Day arrives in just a few days, I do plan to honor our Fallen Heroes through the rest of this week.
SSGT Richard T. Pummill of Cincinnati, Ohio, was killed by an IED while conducting combat operations near Nasser Wa Salaam, Iraq on October 20, 2005. SSGT Pummill was a husband and a father, as well as a son and a friend. Before he was assigned to a Weapons Unit and deployed to Iraq, SSGT Pummill was a recruiter in the Lexington, Kentucky recruiting station. He just happened to be stationed there at the same time that my son worked there as part of his high school co-op. David entered the USMC in the Delayed Entry Program at the age of 17....yes, I had to sign the papers.......and yes, I had a LOT of questions for SSGT Pummill and the other recruiters! Anyway, David worked in the office daily from noon to 5 pm assisting the recruiters and preparing for boot camp for 11 months before he graduated from high school and headed to Parris Island.
David deployed to Fallujah in March of 2005, and returned to the US in late October 2005. Just a couple of days before SSGT Pummill was killed, David ran into him over in Iraq. He called me to tell me he had run into Pummill and was really excited that he had run into his old recruiting buddy. Due to the fact that David's unit was soon to be heading back to the states, he did not realize that SSGT Pummill was killed until he returned to the states about 10 days later. Needless to say it was quite a shock and a huge loss. It's hard to picture that friendly face that greeted us at the door of the recruiting center and realize that he has made the ultimate sacrifice at such a young age. I'm glad I had the opportunity to know SSGT Pummill and I'm glad he had a chance to be an influence on my son. The next time you see a recruiter, take a second and say thanks. Chances are they have already seen a few deployments, and will probably see a few more. They are also the ones that can pick out a "hero in the making". We need people to recognize them and send them along the path of service. Running for SSGT Pummill, who made the ultimate sacrifice for me, was a true honor!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Today I ran 3 miles and walked 2 miles. Here is an update on the heroes I honored with today’s STEPS.
Mile 1 - Tow Platoon, 2nd Tank BN, 2 MAR When I was trying to come up with today’s heroes, I started thinking through all the guys that deployed with my son back in 2005 and again in 2006. There were so many of them that I realized it would take me weeks to get on to the next group of heroes. I decided that I would run a mile in honor of the platoon today. These guys will always be very special to me. I had the privilege of getting to know many of these Marines and their families. We had a close-knit group of family members that supported each other through two deployments. The Tow Platoon extended family became my family. I know that the Marines that served alongside my son will always be his brothers. I can’t possibly understand the bond that these men will always share, but I do know that I share a pretty special bond with their family members. To all of you in 2nd Tanks, Tow Platoon serving in 2005 and 2006 tours to Fallujah......thank you for your service! Semper Fi! Mile 2 - Jeff Smith, Veteran US Army I am proud to call Jeff Smith my friend. He is one of the most patriotic people I have ever met. He loves God and country more than most of us put together! He comes from a long line of military service. His grandfather served in WWI, his father served in WW2, his brother served in Vietnam, and Jeff’s army service took him to Germany. Jeff’s son served three tours, 2 to Iraq and 1 to Afghanistan. Needless to say, Jeff and his family deserve at least a mile of my STEPS today! Thank you to ALL the Smith family veterans. We are a better nation because of people like you!
Mile 3 - Lt. Brenda Cowan, Fallen Firefighter, Lexington, KY I did not have the privilege of knowing Lt. Brenda Cowan, but I know that she was an amazing hero. Lt. Cowan was the first female African American to join Lexington’s fire department. She was killed in the line of duty, February 13, 2004, just a week after she was promoted to Lieutenant. Cowan was a dedicated member of the fire department who is remembered as a courageous and humble woman. She is dearly missed here in Lexington, and we are all truly grateful for her service.
Mile 4 - LCPL Chase Comley, Fallen Marine, 2D Assault Amphibian BN, B Co, 2 Mar Div, II MEF Chase Comley was only 21 on August 6, 2005, when he died while serving his country in Iraq. Chase was a graduate of Sayre School in Lexington, Kentucky. He won a number of athletic awards at Sayre, was the starting center for his basketball team, and played pitcher and catcher for Sayre’s baseball team. Chase was always a good athlete. He was the pitcher for my son’s baseball team at Gardenside Little League. Coincidentally, even though Chase and my son, David, were not in the same unit, they both served together at the same FOB, Camp Smitty. We think the world is a big place, but two kids from Little League found themselves serving together to establish a forwarding operating base back in 2005. From all who knew him, it is said that it was an honor to serve alongside LCPL Chase Comley. Thank you for your sacrifice, Chase. We will always be grateful that you stood in the gap for each of us.
Mile 5 - Gunnery Sgt. Michael Anderson, USMC When I met Michael Anderson he was “Sgt. Anderson”. His name was mentioned quite regularly around our house. He was the Marine recruiter based in Lexington, Kentucky at the time that my son was begging us to sign the papers for the Delayed Entry Program which allow one to enter the Corps at the tender age of 17. I had some serious doubts about one of my kids entering the USMC, but Sgt Anderson spent plenty of time helping my husband and I work through our concerns. I’m sure you are shaking your head. Recruiters get a bad name. People accuse them of just wanting to reach their quota and more. Perhaps that is true for some, but “Sgt. Anderson” took my boy under his wing and spent an entire year preparing David for boot camp and his life as a future Marine. Sgt. Anderson is now Gunnery Sgt. Anderson. He is a career Marine. Shortly after he left the Lexington recruiting office, he was deployed to Iraq. He continues to move to the places where he is called by the Corps. After 5 years, he still keeps in touch with my son. I don’t know if he is still mentoring all of his recruits, but I do know that he is faithful to be there to advise my son to this day. Thank you Gunny Anderson! You will always hold a special place in my heart!
For the past 5 or 6 months, I have been working on the STEPS to HONOR program. It is a dream of mine to get an awareness program started that will motivate people to purposefully set aside time each day to honor our American heroes. I’ve given the program a lot of thought. The program isn’t about who can run the fastest mile or who can run the longest distance. It is simply about honoring those who selflessly serve for you and for me. It has to be a program in which anyone can participate. It can be as easy or as difficult as you choose for it to be. I see two benefits from participating. The first benefit - you will be forever changed if you really take the time to honor our heroes. The second benefit - you will get in better shape!
The reason this program is called STEPS to HONOR and not something such as RUN to HONOR is because not all of us are runners. I can personally tell you that I hate to run. Until recently, I had never run more than a mile without stopping. I had not ever had the interest to push myself in that way.....until I participated in Run for the Fallen last August. As I mentioned earlier, I had begun an exercise program earlier in the year. I had been walking at the YMCA and taking a few exercise classes in an effort to strengthen muscles and better cope with a permanent disability with which I live. I had gotten in the habit of exercising about 5 days a week so I was much more prepared to run a mile than I had been in years. I decided that I was going to participate in Run for the Fallen, and I was going to actually jog rather than walk.
August 24, 2008 was a HOT day in Lexington, Kentucky. As the group headed out to run the mile long trek, I immediately noticed that it was a lot harder to run in the heat than it was to jog in the A/C on a treadmill. About 1/4 of a mile down and I was beginning to think I was crazy! I refused to quit and kept on running. At the half mile point, I was really hot and ready to stop, but I was determined that I would not quit. The last half mile was extremely difficult, but I kept telling myself that I could do this. Certainly the men and women that have served on my behalf suffered much more than I was suffering.....and they had made the ultimate sacrifice on my behalf. There was no way I was going to stop running until I got to the finish line or dropped dead trying to get there! Somehow, I managed to make it to the finish line. I had struggled, but somehow I did make it to the end. The entire time that I was suffering, I was reminded of the names written on my racer’s bib. As I ran and struggled to breathe, I spent time thinking about the individuals I was honoring with my run. I prayed for their families and asked God to give them what they needed to keep on going in this world without their loved one that had made the ultimate sacrifice. I thanked the Lord for His grace and the blessing of living in a land of liberty and for those that had made that possible through their service.
PROGRAM BENEFITS: You will feel encouraged when you give back by honoring our nation’s heroes. We guarantee a “healthier you” if you take STEPS on a regular basis, and you will be a part of spreading patriotism and a positive attitude which is something that our country desperately needs! This program will foster awareness for those that serve everyday to keep us safe and ensure our freedoms.
A STEPS to HONOR certificate will be issued to all who register and submit mileage for our program. All certificates will be issued at the end of the 2010 program in September.
Do you have a hero that you would like to nominate? We will add your hero to our list and others can honor him/her with their STEPS to HONOR. Submit the following information to steps2honor@gmail.com.
Hero's name Area of Service (Military Branch, Law Enforcement, Firefighter)
If you would like to submit a jpeg image of your hero, attach it to the email. Your photo may be added to our site, so please make sure you have permission to submit the image.
WHAT IS STEPS to HONOR?
STEPS to HONOR is an awareness program designed to honor those who stand in the gap to provide a safe America for all of us. Since the birth of our great nation, there have always been brave and courageous individuals that have stepped up to defend our liberty and keep us safe from harm. Military Missions, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity, has designed this program to honor those that serve and sacrifice on our behalf.
If you walk, jog, or run, you are already taking STEPS. Why not honor one of America’s heroes while you exercise? STEPS can be taken anywhere! Walk your neighborhood or take your steps inside on a track or treadmill or even in the shopping mall! What about the elliptical machine? As long as you are taking STEPS, you can record your mileage in this awareness program.
WHO CAN BE HONORED? You can honor firefighters and anyone that has served in our military or law enforcement. Basically, anyone that has stood in the gap to keep Americans safe and free is eligible to be honored. This includes veterans, those currently serving, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? Anyone can participate in STEPS to HONOR! This is an awareness program designed for everyone living anywhere! Whether you are an accomplished runner, a Senior Citizen, a young child or belong to a group anywhere in between, you are welcome to take STEPS to HONOR an American Hero!
WHEN CAN I START? The program runs from Memorial Day until September 11, but many of us walk in honor of our heroes 365 days a year. We have chosen to focus on this particular time period as we introduce the program because these months typically have patriotic holidays and warm weather. Memorial Day reminds us of the ultimate sacrifices that have been made for ALL of us. September 11 is a date that will always have significant meaning to ALL of us as we are reminded of the many who were tragically killed by terrorist attacks, and the many that stepped up to protect us on that day in 2001.
CAN I STILL PARTICIPATE IF THE PROGRAM HAS ALREADY STARTED? Yes! You can start TODAY! This is an awareness program. If you walk only one mile in a hero’s honor, we have accomplished our goal! Keeping track of total mileage is optional and there are no prizes for most miles STEPPED. It’s not about us and how much we STEP. It is about honoring our heroes!
HOW DO I GET STARTED? The only real answer is “just start stepping”, but if you would like to honor your hero in our program here is what you need to do:
1. Now that you have found our STEPS to HONOR blog site, go up to the top of the page and click FOLLOW. As a follower you are able to keep up with our updates.
2. Register by clicking here.We want to know who is participating in our program. Send us your name, city and state where you live, and your email address. We will not give this information out to any third parties.
3. If you would like to participate in our blog, you must have a google (gmail) account. Register for a google account and then register with www.blogger.com. Once we receive your request to join our blog team, we will add you to our list of blog authors. You will then be able to post information about your heroes and your STEPS to HONOR them. Please keep all posts positive and encouraging. We will delete any posts that are not written with respect and honor of our heroes. Inappropriate posts and pictures will cause you to lose blogging privileges on our website.
DO I HAVE TO JOIN THE BLOG? No. You only need to register. You can honor a hero without recording your experience on our blog, but you might want to consider participating to generate more awareness and honor for your hero. Sharing your experience with others will encourage them to consider taking a few STEPS to HONOR! You will get a chance to share your hero’s story with the rest of us and allow us the opportunity to honor that individual as well. It’s time to encourage patriotism with positive stories of service and sacrifice of those that make the USA a great nation!
HOW DO I KEEP TRACK OF MILEAGE? There is a mileage chart available that will help you to keep an account of your mileage. You are not required to use the chart, but it is available for your convenience if you are interested in keeping track of your mileage. We hope you will keep track of your STEPS to HONOR and let us know about your accomplishments and the heroes you are honoring with your STEPS! To print out the mileage record go to the top of this page and click on the link on the right or go to www.militarymissionsonline.com/ stepstohonor.htm.
CAN I HONOR MORE THAN ONE HERO? Absolutely! You can honor one hero with every mile or you can honor a different hero with each mile.
HOW CAN I HONOR SOMEONE IF I DON’T KNOW ANYONE SERVING? If you don’t know anyone personally, you can go to one of the websites listed below to find a name of a fallen hero. Additionally, you can inquire about those in your local community that are currently serving and STEP in honor of them.
CAN I NOMINATE A HERO? Yes! If you have a particular hero that you would like to honor, please add them to your blog post. If you are not a member of our blog team, you can send us your hero’s information. Please include as much information as possible such as name, rank, years served/serving. For security reasons, please do not submit any confidential information that can not be put on our website. Remember, some of our heroes are still serving and many have jobs which require them to keep their identities private. Please respect any rules that are set in place with regard to release of information. We need to respect the privacy of those who work so hard to protect us from harm and can not put anyone at unnecessary risk.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE? Nothing but your time! There is no charge to participate in STEPS to HONOR. This awareness program is free. We do have t-shirts available for a donation of $15. All proceeds will benefit military families through programs run by Military Missions, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. If you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt, please visitwww.militarymissionsonline.com/apps/webstore/ Purchasing a t-shirt helps to spread the word and make everyone aware that we have many heroes who need to be appreciated and encouraged.
WHAT IS MILITARY MISSIONS, INC.? Military Missions, Inc. is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization made up of volunteers who want to be sure that our troops, and their families, are always encouraged. The organization has a number of opportunities available that give everyone a chance to say "thank you" to our military. Get to know us and find out how you can support our military and their families beyond the yellow ribbon.
Our organization plays the role of facilitator in a community where civilians and military personnel work and live together. As our military personnel serve, providing protection and safety for all of us, we work to give something back to our troops and their families.
Our role in supporting our military and their families is ever changing as we continue to work with groups, businesses, and individuals that want to do something special to say thank you to our troops serving in harm’s way and their families serving here on the home front.
TELL ME ANOTHER WAY TO HONOR MY HERO! Honor one of your heroes with a donation given in their honor. Military Missions, Inc. will send a letter acknowledging your donation to the person of your choice. Your donation allows you to include your hero’s picture on the Military Missions Wall of Honor. After you have made your donation, submit a jpeg image of your hero to info@militarymissionsonline.com Please allow 3 days for your hero’s picture to be posted on our website. Include the name, rank, years served/serving if you would like the information posted with your hero’s picture. For security reasons, please do not submit any confidential information that can not be put on our website. To find out how to add your hero to Military Missions Wall of Honor, go to www.militarymissionsonline.com/ donateinhonor.htm. To visit the Wall of Honor, go to www.militarymissionsonline.com/ wallofhonor.htm.
Thank you for visiting our website. We hope you will join us to honor America’s greatest heroes by taking STEPS to HONOR!
iting station. He just happened to be stationed there at the same time that my son worked there as part of his high school co-op. David entered the USMC in the Delayed Entry Program at the age of 17....yes, I had to sign the papers.......and yes, I had a LOT of questions for SSGT Pummill and the other recruiters! Anyway, David worked in the office daily from noon to 5 pm assisting the recruiters and preparing for boot camp for 11 months before he graduated from high school and headed to Parris Island.
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