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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - “The greatest casualty is being forgotten,” states the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit charity organization which raises money to support veterans who have sacrificed for their country. Three Marines from Marine Corps Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 are reminding us of those sacrifices during a 500-mile fundraising hike.
Sergeant Justin Decker of Poughkeepsie, New York, Sgt. David Hernandez of Porterville, California, and Cpl. Cody Isaac of Columbus, Ohio, will step off from Fontana Dam, North Carolina, for their 30-day hike March 17, 2015 The Marines will hike, on average, 16 miles a day through the rolling mountain terrain of the Appalachian Trial. The purpose of the hike is to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project.
The Wounded Warrior Project offers a wide variety of services to those in need, explained Hernandez. They provide services that include rehabilitation programs, education grants and financial assistance to wounded veterans. The cause is more than worthy, the three Marines agreed.
For Isaac, the WWP has already significantly impacted his family. His brother had his ear drums ruptured while serving and was medically separated as a result. The WWP paid for all of the consequential medical expenses that otherwise would have left their family struggling financially.
This hike will not go without significant sacrifices from the participating Marines. While the MALS-29 command is granting them 15 days of permissive temporary assignment duty leave, they will be using an additional 15 days of their own personal leave days. The Marines also paid for the equipment required to complete the hike, such as boots, packs and food, out of their own pockets.
“We have meticulously planned out every detail of this hike,” Isaac said.
They will carry about 45 pounds in their packs and pick up additional necessities in care packages that they will send to post offices along the trail.
“As service members, we are always giving up our time and effort for a greater cause,” Hernandez said. “And we tend to forget the service members who have already served. I don’t want to forget those who have paved the way for us.”
The Marines have a fundraising goal of $5,000. If you would like to contribute, please visit https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/group-fundraising/Thewarrior500.
| Date Taken: | 03.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2015 12:57 |
| Story ID: | 156947 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US |
| Hometown: | COLUMBUS, OH, US |
| Hometown: | PORTERVILLE, CA, US |
| Hometown: | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MALS-29 Marines honor wounded warriors during 500 mile fundraising hike, by Sgt Michelle Reif, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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