Axe Maidens Blog: Marines 5k Marathon
Watching the sun come up over Jacksonville Municipal Stadium was so beautiful. That’s a site most people don’t get to see on a Saturday morning!
The Axe Maidens arrived with smiles on October 3rd at 5:45am to assist the USO with the Jacksonville Marine Cops Half-Marathon and 5K. It was still dark out when we handed out race tags and runner’s coins to a multitude of people. Individuals, groups and high-school ROTC programs came out to run. Many had a military connection. We met several guys who had just returned from the Middle East and a couple that were on their way in the coming weeks. ‘Thank you’ just didn’t seem enough to say to these soldiers. It was an honor to help them and the USO.
Dee Dee and I pulled double duty that day. Following the 5k event, we traveled to the Fleet Reserve Association Motorcycle Poker Run, and met up with Cara to assist with yet another USO event. We were in charge of the registration and ticket table. There were many motorcycles carrying Vets that came through. Several of them spoke of their service to the US, some of them wore their branch proudly on their jackets, and even displayed their pride in ink (tattoos). The USO had assisted them when they needed it and now they were more than happy to participate in the event and make donations to a great cause. Our thanks go out to the men and women of the USO for their commitment to help our soldiers! We look forward to being part of USO events in the future!
~ Amy M.
Jacksonville Axe Maidens
