Dan's Blog

Trace Adkins rocked the house at the NRA Country Jam in St. Louis on April 13, 2012. Thank you to Trace, Bushnell and NRA Country for your incredible support of Folds of Honor and the military families we serve.

It has been an incredible weekend leading up to the Boston Marathon tomorrow. On Friday, I had the opportunity to speak at the NRA Convention in St. Louis, along with Mitt Romney and many others. Country music star Trace Adkins also performed at the NRA Country Jam benefiting Folds of Honor Foundation. It was a great night of God and Country!

Yesterday, I flew to Boston to rest up and start the hydration process in advance of the Boston Marathon. For me, physical training is obviously essential to running this race. But, along with the physical training I also depend on a daily spiritual regime and God's strength to fulfill the calling on my life to care for the spouses and kids of fallen and disabled service members. A scripture on my mind is Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." I will mediate on this passage throughout the race, and especially as I push up Heartbreak Hill. The race is expecting temperatures rising into the upper 80’s tomorrow, so please pray for me. I have to laugh at the record-high temperatures projected because that's how things tend to go for me--I like to do everything the hard way!

Thank you to everyone who has made a donation and joined me on this mission, running on behalf of the one million spouses and dependents of military veterans killed or disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you haven't yet made a donation, there is still time. Become a Wingman. Every single donation makes a difference.

Godspeed,
Dan

My training over the past five weeks culminates one week from today – April 16th, Patriot’s Day 2012 – with the historic 116th running of the Boston Marathon. The training process for the race has been strenuous and challenging… but more importantly, it has been an extremely rewarding experience.

This week marks the sixth and final week of training – representative of the sixth fold in the American flag. A fold illustrative of where our hearts lie. For it is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

As this journey comes to an end, I would like to genuinely thank you for your continued support and patriotism! Your contributions continually help us provide opportunities to these families who have been adversely impacted from the recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Please be sure to follow Folds of Honor on Facebook and on Twitter for race updates next Monday.

In another two weeks, I will embark on the 116th Boston Marathon on behalf of the Folds of Honor Foundation and the over one million dependents of those military personnel who have either been disabled or killed in action in recent operations. The mission is simple. To provide educational opportunities for the children and spouses of those service members who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

This week represents my fifth week of training – a tribute to the fifth fold in the American flag. This is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong.”

This week’s runs will be spread out between Las Vegas and Augusta. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to run on the UNLV campus. Tomorrow’s run will be in Augusta, Georgia, home of the 76th Masters.

I only have a couple long runs left until I line up on the historic starting line in Boston. Please continue to support me on this mission! Become a Wingman by donating $1 for every mile I will run on Patriot’s Day, April 16th.