The Ruck Up Foundation honors fallen soldiers
The Ruck Up Foundation embarks on their annual Memorial Day ruck styled hike in Palo Duro Canyon.
Holidays and special occasions can be bittersweet. Sweet are the times you get to celebrate and share your love with those closest to you; bitter are the periods of grief that creep in and remind you that someone you care about isn’t there to share those moments. Memorial Day is one holiday that is hard for families of fallen soldiers.
A small group of proud Pantexans – Cosme Alonzo, Anthony Jaramillo, Daniel Mata, Ismael Ordaz, and Daniel Prieto – who are also combat veterans, saw an opportunity to help local Gold Star families and bolster the legacies of these fallen heroes. A Gold Star family has experienced the loss of an immediate family member as a result of active-duty military service.
“For many, Memorial Day is a weekend to barbeque and enjoy the start of the summer season, but there are a lot of people who find themselves in a really negative place during Memorial weekend,” Alonzo said. “One year, we decided that we needed to stop drowning our sorrows in unhealthy outlets and find a wholesome way to memorialize our fallen comrades.”
And so began the Ruck Up Foundation.
The men, all of whom are Security Police Officers, wanted to find a way to say “thank you from a grateful nation.” The Ruck Up Foundation has committed to sending birthday cards to children of fallen heroes through their 21st birthdays. They have also established an annual college scholarship for a family member of a fallen soldier. Through their 10-mile ruck in Palo Duro Canyon and other events, they raise money to host an annual Gold Star Christmas event, partnering with Toys for Tots, to provide Christmas presents for the children.
“Our Ruck Up hike for Memorial Day is our biggest event and my personal favorite,” Mata said. The group sponsors a 10-mile hike to raise money for these projects. “For $50 you get into Palo Duro Canyon, a t-shirt, and some fun swag. What started out as three guys trying to pour their grief into a healthy outlet has turned into 121 individuals hiking in remembrance of fallen soldiers.”
The Ruck Up Foundation feels so lucky to have the support and compassion of their coworkers and encourages anyone who wants to tag along.
“I would say about 50 percent of our participation comes from Pantexans or immediate family members,” Jaramillo says. “Pantexans like Chelsey Westfall. When I reached out to her for a quote for her photography services, she was so supportive of our cause that she donated her services for free. At the end of the day, that’s the kind of support that allows us to do this.” Westfall is the Administrative Assistance for Safeguards and Security.
For many, Memorial Day marks the kick off to summer. For the Ruck Up Foundation it is time to pause and reflect on what the day is really about. They encourage people to take a moment to give thanks and honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. And, if you’re up for it, join a group of dedicated Pantexans on Sunday, May 25, for the Foundation’s annual hike at Palo Duro Canyon.
If your family, or a family you know, could benefit from the services the Ruck Up Foundation provide or if you would like to participate in any of their events, visit their website for more information.