Honor Through Sweat

CrossFit WOD for the Warrior Foundation

Honor Through Sweat

• By Rebekah Sanderlin

Yesterday, all mindful that it was the eve of the 10th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, about 100 people gathered at CrossFit Fort Bragg to show their respect for our nation’s military and to raise money for the families of fallen warriors.

Men, women and children alike participated in events throughout the day, including the premiere activity — a grueling “WOD”, or workout of the day, designed specifically to honor the members of the Air Force Special Tactics Squadron who have lost their lives in defense of our freedom. Participants paid $10 each to join in and also bid on silent auction and raffle items.

All proceeds went to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides resources for the families of fallen Special Operations personnel. It was the second year the fundraiser has taken place.

The event was arranged by Michelle Benedict, the owner of CrossFit Fort Bragg, several of the gym’s members and staff, and a combat controller who asked that his name not be used.

The combat controller addressed the crowd before the workout began. He reminded everyone that the event started last year after the deaths in the Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan of Senior Airman Danny Sanchez and Senior Airman Mark Forrester.

Last year’s event was a huge success, raising more than $2,000 for the charity and included participation from the Spring Lake Fire Department and from many local and national merchants. Plans were already in the works for another fundraiser workout this year when, on August 6 an American Chinook helicopter was shot down by insurgents in Afghanistan, leaving no survivors.

Among the 31 killed in action were three more Special Tactics Squadron warriors, including Combat Controller Andy Harvell of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Field.

The combat controller told the crowd Saturday, which included several other combat controllers, that Harvell had been a close friend of his and showed a slideshow of pictures of Harvell and the other fallen warriors. He reminded those present about the about the gravity and danger inherent in the work these troops do.

“When you see an explosion in the slideshow, know that people are being killed on the ground. Our job is to crush and kill the enemy, and we are not embarrassed by that. This isn’t Hollywood. This is real, courtesy of people who are right here in this room.”

He continued, choking back emotions and saying, “It is important that we look at these guys for who they were and their legacy. If that only meant giving money, then I’d give it all. If it means telling their story, then I’ll stand up here and cry and tell it.”

This year’s event featured the same WOD as last years, called the “CCT 21/23 WOD”. It was modeled after the Special Tactics PT test and participants, most wearing 20-pound weighted vests, executed a punishing 100 pull-ups, 3 mile run, 100 push-ups and 200 sit-ups.
According to Benedict, the exhausting workout serves as a glimpse of the hard work that Special Tactics warriors, and all Special Operations soldiers, perform every day to train for and fight the war on terror.

“This event is a pleasure for me,” Benedict told the crowd. “Give it your all. Leave some on the floor. Put out for those guys you saw in the video.”

Those interested in donating to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation as part of the CCT 21/23 Memorial workout can do so by clicking here.