Members of the University ROTC Air Force program recently took first place in their 6th annual Mountain Man Memorial Marathon in Gatlinburg, Tenn. The slogan of this event was “honor through action.”
The purpose of their slogan meant that the event was to honor the sacrifices of American service members and their families, according to its website.
It’s probably safe to say that nothing will give you a better appreciation of their sacrifice than to walk a mile, let alone 26.2 miles, in their shoes and their weight on your back, according to the website.
The website also said that the 2013 MMMM honored over 75 service members from all branches of the United States military and their families. There were over 575 runners and walkers from all over the U.S.
The MMMM’s main purpose is a way to honor First Lieutenant Frank B. Walkup, IV. Walkup was a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee and an ROTC alumnus. He was killed in action in Iraq in 2007 when an explosive device detonated near his vehicle, according to the website.
A group of University of Tennessee Cadets wanted a way to honor 1LT Walkup and his family, and so the MMMM began.
The inaugural MMMM was held in April 2008 with 40 cadets from East Tennessee ROTC programs. It consisted of a 26.2-mile march, each Cadet carrying a 35-pound pack, according to the website.
The University Ranger team carried a picture of 1LT Walkup the entire way and presented it along with a Gold Star flag to his mother at the finish line.
