MY MEMORIAL DAY 5K: FOR DAD

Image, Earned Runs bib on Memorial Day May 29, 2017. Taken by PKSenagore. All rights reserved.

MY MEMORIAL DAY 5K : For Dad + GENEROSITY
Yesterday’s personal 5K had two purposes. The first and trivial reason was to establish a baseline time for my ‘fastest 5K’ summer challenge. It was possibly my slowest ever, after recovering from a knee issue. That not-so-good marker will be motivation to NOT over-train thereby avoiding re-injury, and to persevere with the strength part of the training plan.
 
Most importantly the 5K was to remember and honor those who gave their lives in service of the USA., the purpose of this HOLIDAY.  My father served in World War II, never fought overseas, and passed away 50 years after the war.  With a college education and business degree it was determined he would be stationed in Chicago IL to work in connection with the Army’s quartermaster center activities there.  This is according to the history provided by my deceased mother. 
 
Although he did not die in the war, the football playing dreams of his youth died when war was declared, as did the dreams of the entire generation.  The future we envision as young people is often very different from reality. It makes me think that men and women soldiers of the decades since, whether killed, injured, or physically unharmed during their tours of service, experienced a reality harsher than those of us protected ‘at home’ can comprehend. Their families too. The very act of leaving military service can be difficult it seems. 
 
For all that has been endured and sacrificed, THANK YOU.
 
Because I did not pay a 5K registration fee, in keeping with Earned Runs GENEROSITY mission, I made a comparable donation to WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA, in advance of their December wreath laying activity.  This organization is not rated by CharityNavigator.com because it is not eligible.
 
In reading their story, I was reminded that this time of year is perfect for donations to organization that aim to have a positive impact during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and other winter holidays seasons.
 
RUN HAPPY!
 
http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/our-story

https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.profile&ein=208362270