Retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Eric Gonzalez, was the guest speaker at the Joggin’ for Frogmen race opener. He has been deployed five times and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Johnson Publications photo)
Delaney Huber won first place in the Tadpole Trot for girls two and under division. (Johnson Publications photo)
Travis Bischoff was one of four who participated in the Military Boots or Packing Weight category. Bischoff fulfilled both categories wearing army boots and wearing full army gear. (Johnson Publications photo)
Henry Todd of Cheyenne is pictured above as he crossed the finish line in his wheelchair, alternately pushed by his nephew, Tom Harris of Omaha and his great-niece, Sheri Ladenburger of Fremont. He served in both WWII and the Korean War, and is the oldest living frogman. At age 88, he was also the oldest in Saturday’s race. (Johnson Publications photo)
Joggin’ for Frogmen numbers up this year
Participants and volunteers were greeted with sunshine and warm weather for the Joggin’ for Frogmen race last Saturday.
The numbers for the 5k were up from last year’s 108 runners to 114 runners for the fifth annual Imperial Joggin’ for Frogmen event. This didn’t include the number of Tadpole runners who competed this year.
Kelsey Owens, Imperial race coordinator, said there are six Joggin’ for Frogmen races in the U.S. so far. The other states who participate are California, Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia
“Our race here in Nebraska is the smallest of all the races, but we raise more funds than some of the bigger races,” Owens said.
There was a total of $2,920 raised from fundraisers as of race day with Elania Fanning being the top individual fundraiser with $675.
People can continue to raise funds until the end of the year.
All the funds raised go to the Navy Seals Foundation.
“I am happy to say that we had no new fallen Seals from last year,” Owens added.
They added a new wall this year with photos of loved ones who served as Seals and died for our country.
“We will be continuing this wall every year, and I encourage people to bring more photos of those that were lost to keep their presence alive,” Owens said.
She added that she would also like to see photos of those who served protecting U.S. freedom and are now safe at home.
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Eric Gonzalez, was the guest speaker. He has been deployed five times and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Gonzalez commented that nobody returns from combat the same. Some injuries are apparent, but most are not, he continued.
For those who never return, the wounds of losing a loved one never heal.
“The hardest thing I have ever done wasn’t the firefights or diffusing bombs. In fact, it had nothing to do with combat.
“The hardest thing was being a pallbearer for a friend who died in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, carrying his casket to the grave site and handing his four-year-old son a folded American flag. It was heart wrenching,” he said.
He said he has never been comfortable being called a hero.
“Those who gave the ultimate sacrifices for this country are the true heroes,” Gonzalez said.
Henry Todd of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was introduced and honored as the oldest living frogman having served in World War II as an underwater demolitions expert. He and his team swam in Tokyo Bay searching for explosives as U.S. battleships arrived into the bay for the signing of the peace treaty after Hiroshima.
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