Ruck With a Purpose

07/13/2026

"RUCK WITH A PURPOSE “
July 5th - July 11th
Because more than 22 Veterans & First Responders a day lose their battle with mental health my Service dog “Chipper“and I "Ruck March" as many miles as we can a week and dedicate that weeks Ruck March to a Veteran/First Responder that has lost their battle with mental health. This weeks "Ruck March" of 10.84 miles is dedicated to U.S. Air Force Veteran Senior Airman Donald X. Anthe.
Don was very well known and respected in the Air Force community, where he not only was liked by all, but he was regarded as the “gotta have an excellent rating” kind of guy. He was also in pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Don spent many hours of his days volunteering in the Cheyenne area. He was a Boy Scout leader, devoted hours at the Med Group Trick or Treat and also helped with the Medical Group booster club. Don loved spending time with his friends, playing video games and just hanging out talking and laughing. He was very proud to wear his Air Force uniform. His teamwork, leadership and positive attitude was recognized by senior leadership as he received multiple awards, one of his most noteworthy was Airman of the Year for the Medical Support Squadron in 2008.
The sacrifices made by our veterans can never be forgotten.
If anyone has a Veteran or First Responder family member / loved one or friend that lost their battle to mental health and would like a ruck march dedicated in their memory please message me.
Veteran crisis line - txt 838255 or call 1 800 273 8255 press 1
Su***de hot line call 988 !
Thank you everyone for your support.
# ***deawareness ***deprevention ***deawareness

07/10/2026

06/30/2026

"RUCK WITH A PURPOSE “ (12 weeks post knee replacement)
June 21st - June 27th
Because more than 22 Veterans & First Responders a day lose their battle with mental health my Service dog “Chipper“and I "Ruck March" as many miles as we can a week and dedicate that weeks Ruck March to a Veteran/First Responder that has lost their battle with mental health. This weeks "Ruck March" of 15.46 miles is dedicated to the memory of QM2 Malik Lamont Thornton, US Navy veteran who lost his battle with mental health on Sept 25th 2022.
Born on April 24, 1996 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Dawn Thornton and lived in Monroe County for the past 23 years.
He worked as a manager for Amazon and was in the United States Navy Reserves.
Malik was very social and enjoyed spending time with friends. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and was an up and coming DJ. He is survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
The sacrifices made by our veterans can never be forgotten.
If anyone has a Veteran or First Responder family member / loved one or friend that lost their battle to mental health and would like a ruck march dedicated in their memory please message me.
Veteran crisis line - txt 838255 or call 1 800 273 8255 press 1
Su***de hot line call 988 !
Thank you everyone for your support.
# ***deawareness ***deprevention ***deawareness

06/23/2026

"RUCK WITH A PURPOSE “ (11 weeks post knee replacement)
June 14th - June 20th
Because more than 22 Veterans & First Responders a day lose their battle with mental health my Service dog “Chipper“and I "Ruck March" as many miles as we can a week and dedicate that weeks Ruck March to a Veteran/First Responder that has lost their battle with mental health. This weeks "Ruck March" of 12.22 miles is dedicated to the memory of U.S. Army Combat Veteran MAJ Alan Earl Colley, who lost his battle with mental health on Sept 7th 2017.
Alan was a 20-year active duty and reserve veteran who suffered from the loss of his buddies in combat, then his brother, Stephen, and he struggled to handle it all without help. He was concerned about the impact getting treatment would have on his career, both civilian and military.
Alan was the oldest of six kids. He was a protector by nature all his life. He excelled in everything all his life. Following an initial enlistment in the Army, he went to Cornell through ROTC. He commissioned in the Reserves. He was commander of units many times in his 20-year career. He was deployed to Iraq, Uganda, and El Salvador. In between deployments, he earned a law degree from Michigan Law. He met and married a fellow Army officer classmate whom he met while he was attending a specialized Army school; she beat him out of distinguished graduate! Up until competing with his future wife, he’d been top of his class in everything. We teased him often about that, and he loved being teased. He served well; however, we can only guess how the PTSD of combat and losing his younger brother 10 years before affected him overall. Outwardly, to us, he was doing everything “successful.” He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.
The sacrifices made by our veterans can never be forgotten.
If anyone has a Veteran or First Responder family member / loved one or friend that lost their battle to mental health and would like a ruck march dedicated in their memory please message me.
Veteran crisis line - txt 838255 or call 1 800 273 8255 press 1
Su***de hot line call 988 !
Thank you everyone for your support.
# ***deawareness ***deprevention ***deawareness

06/18/2026

What is a Green Star Family?

A Green Star Family is a family impacted by the loss of a Veteran to su***de.

Most Americans are familiar with the Blue Star and Gold Star traditions, which recognize military families and families who have lost a Service Member in service to our nation.

Yet families impacted by veteran su***de have historically had no federally recognized symbol of their own.

That is why Green Star Families was created.

Today, recognition efforts are advancing. California has officially recognized the Green Star Service Banner, Pennsylvania has advanced Green Star legislation, and H.R. 6022 — the Sgt. Walter F. Hartnett IV Green Star Veterans Service Act — would establish federal recognition for families impacted by veteran su***de.

Every Veteran leaves behind a family.

Those families deserve to be seen, recognized, and supported.

No family should feel invisible.

06/16/2026

"RUCK WITH A PURPOSE “ (10 weeks post knee replacement)
June 7th - June 13th
Because more than 22 Veterans & First Responders a day lose their battle with mental health my Service dog “Chipper“and I "Ruck March" as many miles as we can a week and dedicate that weeks Ruck March to a Veteran/First Responder that has lost their battle with mental health. This weeks "Ruck March" of 4.51 miles is dedicated to the memory of U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran(Iraq and Afghanistan) Sgt Alexander P Carter who lost his battle with mental health on March 3rd 2023.
Alex served in the Marine Corps for five years as a C-130 Crewmaster. He was strong and determined in anything he attempted to accomplish. He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, NC. He majored in exercise science with a minor in kinesiology. He was a handsome blue-eyed man – hard working and ethical in all he did.
He served our country as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps for five years. During his service, he was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, working as a loadmaster on C-130 aircrafts.
The sacrifices made by our veterans can never be forgotten.
If anyone has a Veteran or First Responder family member / loved one or friend that lost their battle to mental health and would like a ruck march dedicated in their memory please message me.
Veteran crisis line - txt 838255 or call 1 800 273 8255 press 1
Su***de hot line call 988 !
Thank you everyone for your support.
# ***deawareness ***deprevention ***deawareness

06/09/2026

"RUCK WITH A PURPOSE “ (9 weeks post knee replacement)
May 31st - June 6th
Because more than 22 Veterans & First Responders a day lose their battle with mental health my Service dog “Chipper“and I "Ruck March" as many miles as we can a week and dedicate that weeks Ruck March to a Veteran/First Responder that has lost their battle with mental health. This weeks "Ruck March" of 7.40 miles is dedicated to U.S. Air Force Veteran SrA Christopher Thomas Wagner who lost his battle with mental health on February 11, 2024.
At the age of 19, Christopher enlisted in the United States Air Force. He valued this service highly and attained the Senior Airman (SrA) rank. Christopher is survived by loved ones who will remember him as caring with a reserved loyal soul to his family and friends. Christopher will always be remembered for his dedication to his country.
The sacrifices made by our veterans can never be forgotten.
If anyone has a Veteran or First Responder family member / loved one or friend that lost their battle to mental health and would like a ruck march dedicated in their memory please message me.
Veteran crisis line - txt 838255 or call 1 800 273 8255 press 1
Su***de hot line call 988 !
Thank you everyone for your support.
# ***deawareness ***deprevention ***deawareness See less See less

05/31/2026

"RUCK WITH A PURPOSE “ (8 weeks post knee replacement)
May 24th - May 30th
Because more than 22 Veterans & First Responders a day lose their battle with mental health my Service dog “Chipper“and I "Ruck March" as many miles as we can a week and dedicate that weeks Ruck March to a Veteran/First Responder that has lost their battle with mental health. This weeks "Ruck March" of 7.07 miles miles is dedicated to the memory of U.S. Navy, Afghanistan combat veteran
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Derosier who lost his battle with PTSD.
Jason was kind, wonderful, simple in his desires for life. He wasn’t flashy, didn’t boast, or aspire to impress anyone. He was a good man – an honest, trustworthy and respected friend. He was a good son. He grew up in South Milwaukee, WI and loved and Brewers and Packers.
His death was awful and destroyed our whole family, and life as we once knew it, the core of our beings is forever changed. This has been extra hard on me and the kids, as we really lost him twice! Seeing his flag draped coffin was the culmination of my worst nightmares while he was deployed and so unbearably cruel, as our guy made it back home, but died anyways!
The sacrifices made by our veterans can never be forgotten.
If anyone has a Veteran or First Responder family member / loved one or friend that lost their battle to mental health and would like a ruck march dedicated in their memory please message me.
Veteran crisis line - txt 838255 or call 1 800 273 8255 press 1
Su***de hot line call 988 !
Thank you everyone for your support.
# ***deawareness ***deprevention ***deawareness See less

05/27/2026

"RUCK WITH A PURPOSE “ (7 weeks post knee replacement)
May 17th - May 23rd.
Because more than 22 Veterans & First Responders a day lose their battle with mental health my Service dog “Chipper“and I "Ruck March" as many miles as we can a week and dedicate that weeks Ruck March to a Veteran/First Responder that has lost their battle with mental health. This weeks "Ruck March" of 5.67 miles is dedicated to the memory of PFC Adrian Darius Chico, US Army who lost his battle with mental health on December 6, 2023. He was found unresponsive in his barracks at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.
He was only 19 years old.
Private First Class (PFC) Adrian Darius Chico was born on July 22, 2004 to parents Orieta and Rolando Chico. They remember Adrian as the most loving and caring son. Adrian “King Of Hearts” how the family friends liked to called him, is remembered by his family as the most kind, happy, beautiful, compassionate, outgoing “life of the party” humble, generous, smart, thoughtful person with the most beautiful contagious smile. He was the funniest guy on earth who loved his family dearly, animals, his Xbox, and his best friends (Henry, AJ, Felipe and Gina). He will always be remembered by his family as “ONE OF THE BRAVEST MAN TO WALK THIS EARTH.”
The sacrifices made by our veterans can never be forgotten.
If anyone has a Veteran or First Responder family member / loved one or friend that lost their battle to mental health and would like a ruck march dedicated in their memory please message me.
Veteran crisis line - txt 838255 or call 1 800 273 8255 press 1
Su***de hot line call 988 !
Thank you everyone for your support.
# ***deawareness ***deprevention ***deawareness