I have something to share…a story…a beautiful story. A story that may make the faint at heart tear up (as I did), or pull at our patriotic heart-strings.
People have told me that my swimming stories inspire them. That makes me happy. I feel so incredible lucky and appreciative that I am able to do what I do. With that said, I want my swimming to have meaning not just for me, but for others as well. I want to be able to use it to help spread some good. There are so many beautiful causes and if I had an endless amount of money I think I would spend all of it trying to move the needle of despair in so many areas: More Than me Foundation, Bethany House, Coloki & one near and dear to my heart – Monsignor Richard Albert’s St. Patrick Foundation in Kingston Jamaica. So many causes…so how did I choose Semper Fi Fund to focus on through my swimming for 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim?
There are several reasons. My favorite holiday has always been Fourth of July. When I was younger, oh how I wished I was born on the fourth of July. Who wouldn’t love fireworks every year on her birthday? My grandfathers were in WWII. My uncles were all navy service men. I grew up looking at their naval tattoos on their forearms. Men who you would never guess would have a tattoo until they hiked up their sleeves and you happened to catch a glimpse. They never talked about their naval tattoos. They just wore them with pride.
Somehow, my son was bitten with the patriotic bug. He loves everything Americana. American flags, books about our founding fathers, revolutionary war stories, civil war stories, how our country was formed, why it was formed, how our flag was made and changed through the years and on and on and on. He has had 3 army parties in his 8 years of life (guess which of the 3 he chose once he was able to voice an opinion). He recently asked me to redo his room to make it more “big boy.” The theme–Revolutionary War of course. I fear, he will be a service man one day. The sweetest, most sensitive, fun-loving, bug-saving little boy you will ever meet may be a soldier. He has it in him, no matter how I try to steer him toward other books of interest and no matter how many activities I have him in-his mind always brings him back to Army stuff. Don’t even get me started on the little plastic soldiers we have hidden and scattered all around the house.
I have reflected long and hard about why I would not want my son serving this country. The utter devastation of war, the things he would be exposed to that we, as parents, do everything we can to shelter him from now, the stigma sometimes attached with being a soldier. Then I say screw it.
My feeling is this, no matter what your political belief, no matter what your stance on war-agree with it, disagree with it-, having a military is a necessity, we will always need one, and always have one. As Americans, there is a responsibility to support the men and women who sacrifice their own safety to ensure ours. Whether you agree with the war going on or the happening, there are people who are protecting us. Each soldier has a story as to why they signed up. Some, to have tuition paid at school, others because they are following a long legacy, and still others, just have a natural pull toward wanting to serve our country. My son may fall into that third category. Chris McManus falls into this third category. I recently had coffee with his beautiful wife and we chatted about his time in the service. His tours in Iraq and the not only physical but also psychological effect war has on these soldiers.
So what did Chris do during those dark times in Iraq to stay sane and keep his men sane? How did he cope with losing 17 men and having more than 200 injured because they were planted in a very remote and deadly corner of the war? How did he get his mind off of the fact that all the comforts he grew up with were not even remotely in view including things like a hot shower or cot to sleep on? Well, he decided he and his men should have a goal, so while stationed in Al Qaim, they built a loop around the perimeter of their camp and started training for the New York City Marathon.
I have attached his story. You should read it but make sure you have tissues. Chris is an example of American Pride at its best. He walked into a marine recruiting office in 2000, after college, because he wanted to serve his country, not knowing that September 11th was right around the corner. His strength and determination not only got him home but also helped lead others whose resolve may have been shaky on those dark, hot, terrifying nights in a foreign country.
Chris has since planted himself in the community, married, a beautiful strong, women and together have created 3 beautiful children. Chris, always the leader, coaches his sons’ sports to help guide them and their friends in a positive direction. With his story in my heart and countless others that I have heard about, it is hard not to want to help raise money for Semper Fi Fund.
To help wounded service men and women and their families who have been affected by combat, on my website, www.LoriKingSwimming.com you can click on a link to Semper Fi and donate. 100% of everything you donate will go directly to the Fund. I am using my swimming as a platform to raise money for them. I will also be holding a fund raising event sometime towards the end of April so stay tuned. Remember, our soldiers are not the reason for the wars we have and they are not the cause. Our soldiers are fighting on our behalf because somebody has to and they were the ones who said “I will, I’ll do it.” They have done and are doing the hardest part so now it is our turn to volunteer for them.
To read Christopher McManus’s full story, please go to: