By Janelle Benuska
“Soldiers, when committed to a task, can’t compromise. It’s unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage, absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until it’s been done.” ―John Keegan
As I reflect on the first two weekends of November, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride to have helped produce five of the Disabled American Veterans Run to Honor Veterans 5K events. Taking place in Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, Kemah, TX, Newport News, VA, and Tulsa, OK, the DAV 5K events brought out thousands of active-duty military, veterans, family members, friends and supporters from within the community to celebrate the work of the DAV and herald the courage, fortitude and bravery of those who have served our country.
Imagine standing at the start line on a chilly November morning watching the colors being presented by a young Honor Guard with formality and reverence. As the National Anthem is sung, the feeling of patriotism is truly palpable. You survey the crowd gathered in the chute and see members of each military branch represented―young and old, male and female; some of able-body, and some who wear the scars of their service. As the local adjutant shares the millions of dollars raised throughout the years to directly support veterans and their families, you notice those with honor bibs pinned to their shirts to recognize the loved ones they have come to run or walk for. A motorcycle crew leads the race with a thunderous rumble, and off they go while spectators cheer and wave American flags.
We congratulate DAV on another successful year of the Run to Honor Veterans 5K series and are grateful for the continued partnership on this deeply meaningful event. Thank you to all the men and women who have so bravely served our country. We hope to see you at a local DAV 5K race next November!
Janelle brings passion for client satisfaction to the Account Management team with a keen attention to project timelines and dedication to ensuring successful events. She currently works on the Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the Ride for AIDS Chicago for TPAN, as well as the Disabled American Veteran’s 5K Race series.
