Photo By Kiera Anderson | Team S.M.A.S.H. (Service Members Actively Supporting Heroes), comprised of soldiers...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga.— S.M.A.S.H. (Service Members Actively Supporting Heroes) isn’t just the team name that 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division soldiers have adopted for the eight-person Run For Heroes Relay. It’s what the team hopes to do as they tackle the daunting feat of running 260 miles, from Warriors Walk at Fort Stewart, Ga. to Fort Benning, Ga., within 40 hours over Memorial Day weekend in order to support wounded warriors.
First Lt. Lurline Holly with the 414th Signal Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, who is serving as team captain, heard about this opportunity because her husband, an officer with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div., was also participating in the Run for Heroes Relay.
“He was telling me what they were doing and why they were doing it, and I got interested,” said Holly. “So, I tried to form a team within my company.”
House of Heroes is a non-profit organization that assists military veterans and their spouses with maintenance, improvements and repairs to their homes at no charge to them. The goal is to help them whether they are on a fixed income or simply can’t get around as easily as they used to, which motivated team S.M.A.S.H. to do their part in spreading the word about this program.
Soldiers with the 414th Signal Company and other volunteers from within the 3rd Inf. Div. came together to participate in the event. For S.M.A.S.H, being a member of the team includes those who aren’t running, but still lending a hand toward the noble cause. Cpl. Savannah Garvie will donate her time by driving the team recreational vehicle.
“I feel like the Army is my family,” said Garvie. “For me, to give back to my family means more to me than anything.”
For some, like Spc. Mary Cordova, participating in the event offers a chance to help others while meeting a personal goal.
“I’m coming from post partum (physical training),” said Cordova. “I wanted (to do) something that would be a personal challenge to me, that was going to force me to run even more and was for a good cause.”
Despite the fact that it is a grueling physical and mental challenge, the entire team is confident they can meet it, and that their teammates all have the right mindset.
“The reason why we’re doing this is to promote awareness and to raise money for the House of Heroes,” said Holly. “We’re not all super strong runners, but there are (some) very fast runners who are experienced marathoners, and we’ve got people like Spc. Cordova, who sees (finishing) as a personal challenge. I think with the collective determination as a team, we’ll be able to do it. That’s the whole point, doing it as a team.”
“We’re pretty determined,” agreed Cordova. “This is for our brothers and sisters in arms.”
There are friends of the team helping with T-shirts and graphic design elements, and sponsors from fellow soldiers to the local Hinesville, Ga., community have contributed to the cost of reflective vests, the team RV, and other provisions, for which S.M.A.S.H is exceedingly grateful.
“There are a lot of people who are really generous and are really supportive of what we do,” said Holly.
Generosity is something the team understands, as most of them will be spending time away from their family during the extended weekend for the relay.
“I’m going to miss out on time with my son because I’m going to (Warrior Leader Course) right after, but it’s going to be worth it,” said Cordova. “For me, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity at this point in my life.”
“My wife is a military spouse, so she’s adapted to the change,” said Staff Sgt. Joel Brashear. “She’s actually going to meet me in Columbus, Ga., and see me across the finish line.”
Each team member will be running approximately 33 miles and each person will get perhaps three to four hours of rest in between legs, which means there won’t be much in the way of sleep either. It’s even more daunting when one considers that the team has been worried about all aspects of the relay, from sponsorship to training, and all in as little as six weeks before the event.
Still team S.M.A.S.H says they may try it again in the future, and even had words of encouragement and wisdom to share with others who would like to try the annual relay next year.
“If you’re trying to improve yourself you want to accept the challenge,” said Brashear. “It makes it that much more special if it’s a challenge.”
“Do something that you don’t think you can,” said 1st Lt. Joshua Herrera “Have a goal; if you can’t meet it, fine, but test how far you can go mentally and physically. It may be crazy, but you gave it a shot. That’s how you progress as a person.”
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2013 09:19 |
| Story ID: | 107582 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT MOORE, GA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 280 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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