On Saturday, May 21st, The Grove will host the 7th Annual Honor the Fallen 5K, Memorial Mile, and GORUCK event, benefiting the Memories of Honor, a nonprofit organization focused on honoring our fallen military and supporting the surviving families.
The event will be run on 100% pavement and will weave around the streets and golf course paths of The Grove. There are four races for participants to choose from – the Run/Walk, the GORUCK, the Wheeled, and the Memorial Mile. 100% of the donations and registration fees will be directly donated to the Memories of Honor foundation. After the racers cross the finish line, there will be an After Party featuring live music, drinks, and BBQ, included in the purchase of the 5K!
The nonprofit has also just announced the addition of a songwriters round performance event to their upcoming event, including performances from several up-and-coming veteran artists based in Nashville, including country recording artist & Marine veteran Adam Warner, country singer-songwriter & Army veteran Brei Carter, and country singer-songwriter & combat Army veteran Mark Addison Chandler.
Who is Honor the Fallen
Memories of Honor, the nonprofit benefitting from this 5K event, was established in 2011 by founder Amy Cotta in Franklin, Tennessee. The mission of the organization is to make every day Memorial Day and honor the fallen military and the family they’ve left behind through numerous social events, including an assortment of athletic and entertainment occasions.
“People die twice – once when they draw their last breath and once when we quit saying their name.” Amy Cotta, founder
Other events and efforts made by Honor The Fallen include partnerships with bull riders, rodeos, colleges, universities, and other brand partners. For example, the organization partnered with the Vanderbilts College Football Team to honor the fallen with pictures and dedications on the player’s cleats.
The association centers itself around three pillars of purpose – honor, heal and connect. HONOR our nation’s fallen heroes, HEAL the unseen wounds of war for both our surviving families and veterans and CONNECT surviving family members, veterans with the civilian community. The organization acts as a living memorial for those who have sacrificed their lives for their country.
Since its launch, the organization has honored 28,745 heroes through memorial bibs, sent 6,932 remembrance packages to families of the fallen, participated in 48,210 volunteer hours, and been represented by 49 states.
What is the Honor the Fallen 5K | Memorial Mile & GORUCK
The event will include four sections for racers to participate in – a Run/Walk, GORUCK, Wheeled, or Memorial Mile. For those who sign up for a 5K division, their ticket will include entry to the after-party, an event t-shirt, a dog tag, finishers medal, fallen hero memorial bib, entry into the memorial mile, and an electronic finishers certification.
The Run/Walk division of the event is open to all competitive and non-competitive runners and walkers, along with those wishing to participate with dogs or strollers. The Wheeled and Handcycle division is limited to only those using handcycles, wheelchairs, or recumbent cycles, and the Memorial Mile, which is already a part of the other divisions, is a one-mile walk.
The GORUCK is a division of the race where participants wear heavy packs that are carried during a soldier’s time in service, along with the names and faces of the fallen soldier they’re representing. For those who decide to sign up for the GORUCK, their entry will additionally include a GORUCK patch. In 2021, 54 people raced in the GORUCK, and this year there are 20 people signed up to participate in this leg of the race.
Throughout the 5K, GORUCK, and Memorial Mile, participants will carry a Fallen Hero Memorial bib containing the name of a fallen service member. Throughout the Memorial Mile, the faces of those being honored will line the track of The Grove. Everyone registered for and completing the 5K + GORUCK will receive a finisher’s medal, as well as awards given to the 1st and 2nd place male and female finishers in particular divisions.
“It’s just knowing that people care, that people still care. It’s hard to explain if you haven’t been through it, but in the beginning, you get a lot of support, obviously, and then life goes on. So, to have events like this and be a part of an organization like this, where they care every day, that is amazing.” Seana Arrechaga, Honor The Fallen supporter.
Recap of 2021 Event
In 2021, The Grove was proud to host over 400 participants and hundreds of spectators at the 6th Annual Honor the Fallen 5K, Memorial Mile, and GORUCK. Participants of the sold-out event had the option to attend the 5K virtually or in-person and honor over 210 fallen soldiers. The event raised a little over $18,500 through donations and registration surrounding the event and reached about $20,000 with the inclusion of merchandise sales at the Memories of Honor store. The 2021 event was also the first time the organization partnered with GORUCK and allowed racers the option to run wearing a weighted pack or weighted vest.
See you on May 21st!
At this year’s event, Honor the Fallen would love the community’s support with waves of residents and supporters even if you are not running or walking the event. Residents can line The Grove’s streets and golf course paths to cheer those on to the finish line.
There are still spots available for the 2022 Honor the Fallen 5K event at The Grove. Sign up for your desired event and walk away knowing that you made a direct, lifelong, and meaningful impact on the lives of the families we serve. Visit the Honor the Fallen 5K website for more information and registration details.
About The Grove
The Grove is an exciting private club community that offers a lifestyle perfectly suited for the entire family. Our motto is “only the best” for our members—from the most comprehensive amenity and recreation offering in the area, to a level of service second to none.
Located in Williamson County, Tennessee, just outside Nashville and only minutes from historic Franklin, this number one selling private community boosts luxurious homes, including grand estate homes, Craftsman-style bungalows, and Tennessee farmhouses. Each magnificent home showcases the elevated design standards and fine craftsmanship of the area’s most-respected custom home builders.