NEWS
JANUARY 10, 2012
Sailor's Dedication Helps Bring Team Travis to Charleston, S.C.
By Tom Sileo
Communications Director, Travis Manion Foundation
Editor, The Unknown Soldiers
Navy Ensign Sean Fitzmaurice remembers exactly how he first got involved with the Travis Manion Foundation. While trying to create an intramural tournament in honor of Marine 2nd Lt. J.P. Blecksmith, a fellow United States Naval Academy graduate who was killed in Iraq on Nov. 11, 2004, Sean got a phone call from someone offering to aid his noble efforts.
"I was first contacted by the Foundation because they wanted to help out with my project in any way that they could," ENS Fitzmaurice explained. "When I learned about the Foundation's mission I was fully drawn to it."
As soon as the Travis Manion Foundation offered assistance, Fitzmaurice asked what he could do in return.
"I ended up meeting the Manions many times during my last year at the Academy, and was happy to help out wherever I could," he wrote.
ENS Fitzmaurice graduated from the Naval Academy in 2011. Ever since the phone call he received from the Travis Manion Foundation, the sailor shared the stories of Marine 1st. Lt. Travis Manion and Navy SEAL Lt. Brendan Looney, both USNA graduates, all around Annapolis. After being stationed at Joint Base Charleston on the beautiful South Carolina coast, he also wanted to spread their story of brotherhood and patriotism all around Charleston as well.
"It only took a few moments of thinking until I knew what I had to do," the sailor said in an e-mail. "I was going to run in honor of Travis and Brendan, even if on my own."
After witnessing the huge success of the 9/11 Heroes Run and Team Travis and Brendan at the Marine Corps Marathon, ENS Fitzmaurice pinpointed the 2nd Annual Charleston Marathon on Saturday, Jan. 14, as the perfect way to honor the fallen and spread awareness about the Travis Manion Foundation's "If Not Me, Then Who..." mission.
"I then decided that I would start Team Travis and Brendan down here and try to get classmates at Nuclear Power School to join me," the sailor explained. "I spread the word around school in October to friends and word spread."
With at least 25 Team Travis runners registered for the Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K so far, the event promises to be a huge success. Sean can't wait to run through Charleston's historic streets as the nearby ocean water glistens in the early morning light, which has to find its way between beautiful palm trees and majestic Spanish moss.
"I am just excited about the weekend and getting everyone together to honor the fallen by taking on the challenge of running," ENS Fitzmaurice wrote. "It is amazing how quickly word spreads and how willing people are to participate once they hear Travis and Brendan's story."
Travis and Brendan's story, along with the heroism displayed by 2nd Lt. Blecksmith and so many other Naval Academy graduates, will continue to inspire ENS Sean Fitzmaurice as he defends our country and remembers those who served before him.
"'Honor the fallen by challenging the living' is exactly what drives me and I can not think of a better motto to live by," the sailor wrote.
To join ENS Sean Fitzmaurice and fellow Team Travis runners on Saturday, Jan. 14 in Charleston, S.C., please click here.
