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    Navy veteran swims Mississippi River to honor fallen comrades

    Navy veteran swims the Mississippi River in honor of fallen comrades

    Photo By Michael Williams | Navy veteran Chris Ring, 28, is attempting to swim the entire Mississippi River to...... read more read more

    JACKSON, Miss. - A gloomy day couldn’t stop a Navy veteran from attempting to become the first American to swim the length of the Mississippi River.

    Chris Ring, a Navy SEAL combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, sets out to swim the mighty Mississippi to honor fallen heroes and Gold Star Families. A Gold Star Family is a family who has lost a loved one in war. Whether it's World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq or Afghanistan, these families receive a pin and flag in honor of their valued family members.

    “After serving my country for nearly 10 years, I didn’t want to put my service behind me,” said Ring. “I wanted to keep serving in some aspect.”

    On June 6, 2015, Ring begins his six-month, 2,320-mile swim down the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca in Itasca, Minn. To complete his journey, Ring averages six and a half hours in the water and nearly 16 miles a day. His goal is to reach Mile Marker 0, where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico, in early December.

    “I feel like this is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing right now and it’s been so powerful and humbling to be able to take it on,” said Ring. “Every opportunity I have to meet a Gold Star Family; that’s why I’m out here. Not to set a record or to be the first to do anything. I don’t see it as an achievement, just an opportunity to connect with families as well as raise awareness.”

    Ring is sponsored by Legacies Alive, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help honor the sacrifice of the nation’s fallen heroes and the Gold Star Families they left behind. During his six-month journey, Ring and his swim team meet and connect with Gold Star Families along the way. Their goal is to raise awareness about what a Gold Star symbolizes.

    “Here at Legacies Alive, we are proud to be able to raise awareness and to connect with as many Gold Star Families as possible,” said Ring. “You guys paid that sacrifice, so everyone should know what that sacrifice is and what the pin and flag means. And we are dedicated to not letting people forget; we are dedicated in keeping their legacy alive.”

    Gold Star lapel buttons are presented to eligible family members as a way to recognize the families of Service members who lose their loves while engaged in action against an enemy in combat.

    Since 2001, approximately 6,800 Service members have died in combat related incidents and training environments, to include some native Mississippians and Mississippi National Guard Service members.

    Donna Bagwell lost her son, Marine Lance Corporal Mark Lucas Tucker, of Pontotoc, Miss., in Iraq in 2005. He was assigned to the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Force Support Group, III Marine Expeditionary. As a member of the Gold Star Families, Bagwell says they find relief to help others who may be going through tough times.

    “As a Gold Star Family member, we support each other and we have found through helping others that it helps us heal,” she said. “We work to do what we can to help veterans and the Silver Star Families as well.”

    Leonard Scardino makes the five-hour (round trip) to meet and visit Ring after hearing about his mission. Leonard lost his son, 2nd Lt. Anthony Scardino, in 2014 during a training exercise at Ft. Gordon, Ga. Anthony was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, headquartered in Jackson.

    “It’s been hard this year, but for this man to take his time to honor us and all veterans, it’s a privilege to be here," said Scardino. "We all (Gold Star Families) have something in common and that’s the pain of losing a loved one in the military. As a Gold Star Family member, we are all one family, helping and supporting each other.”

    Jennifer Smith, a CFA budget administrator for the MSNG, lost her son, Marine Staff Sgt. Jason A. Rogers, of Brandon, who was assigned to the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. Rogers was killed in Afghanistan and posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal with Valor device.

    Smith and a few other supporters come out to cheer on Ring as he makes a pit stop in Vicksburg to talk to some Gold Star Families.

    “It means so much that Chris is doing this in remembrance of all the fallen,” she said. “As a Gold Star family member, our biggest fear is that our family member and their sacrifice will be forgotten. Chris is bringing this cause to light and reminding everyone what it means to be a part of a Gold Star Family.”

    Ring has trained for four months and says there are times when he wants to throw in the towel, but he thinks about the families he represents.

    “Every day on the river is a little bit different; weather, boat traffic, wildlife and sickness,” said Ring. “That’s smaller than what these families have faced. I’m humbled to be able to do this,” said the 28-year old Navy veteran.

    The kayak used on the journey to help guide Ring during his swim is signed by every Gold Star Family he encounters. Some of the most moving experiences with Ring have been watching the families sign their loved-one’s name on the kayak with a small encouraging message.

    “My motivation while swimming is really thinking about those family members,” said Ring. “If you look at that kayak, there are signatures of every family that I met, and they sign their loved one’s name and a little message on there. So when I’m having rough days, I look up and know my obstacles will be over in a few hours, but they have to live with their burdens for the rest of their lives.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 11.02.2015
    Date Posted: 12.01.2015 12:11
    Story ID: 183178
    Location: JACKSON, MS, US

    Web Views: 139
    Downloads: 0

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