Fifty eight conference attendees got themselves up at O’dark thirty in the morning to participate in the 2008 Team Marine Parents Kickoff event in the National Mall. Joining us were Marines, Marine Parents, Marine siblings, even a Gold Star Mom.

Major Sudmeyer and the Marines from Recruit Station Baltimore were a huge help in organizing this event for us.

Our participants who sleepily rode the bus to the National Mall, were quickly brought out of that blissful state of relaxation when they arrived. Sgt Major Archie, a former Parris Island Drill Instructor, boarded the bus and in a classic Drill Instructor voice shouted out some instruction then told everyone to "GET OFF MY BUS”!

After some instruction and a warm up session that included some unexpected sets of push ups, we split into two groups. One group went on a 1.5 mile formation run complete with a guidon, while calling cadence. The other group went on a .75 mile walk lead by LCpl. Josef Lopez. Our walkers were inspired to be following him. Josef had been paralyzed from the neck down from an illness shortly after deploying to Iraq. The members of Marine Parents have been supporting him with prayers and letters through the organizations Operation PAL(tm) program. We have watched his continual improvement the past 2 years. Last year he was in a wheel chair at our Annual Conference and was able to stand to be honored. In October 2007 he participated with Team Marine Parents in the Marine Corps Marathon in a hand cycle. This year we were honored to have him walk with us.

At the conclusion of the event, Major Sudmeyer gathered the participants around and gave a wonderful motivational speech. When he pointed towards the Capital and the Whitehouse & said "we don't do what we do for the folks in those buildings, we do it for each other. We do it for our family....and you are our family. Your support motivates us."

He also said that he hoped we understood why the formation circled back to pick up the folks who fell out to catch their breath. "We did it because we NEVER leave anyone behind."

An anyonymous donor gave $10 per person who participated in the event.