Legacies Alive

10/10/2026

The team is making final preparations for DC and we’re rolling closer to the goal to send 20 Gold Star families to the Army/Navy game this year. Help us make the final push and cross the finish line!

Drew Ross Memorial Foundation
Legacies Alive

10/09/2026

Just a few days out from the Army 10 Miler and the team is at 75% of their goal!! Keep up the great work guys! patriots6alliance and drew_ross_memorial_foundation

The team is making final preparations for DC and we’re rolling closer to the goal to send 20 Gold Star families to the Army/Navy game this year. Help us make the final push and cross the finish line!

Drew Ross Memorial Foundation
Legacies Alive

10/08/2026

Today marks the 15th angelversary of SPC Ricardo Cerros, Jr., U.S. Army.

Ricardo was raised in Salinas, California. He graduated from Everett Alvarez High School in 2005, where he spent four years in the NJROTC program and rose to commanding officer. After high school, he attended the University of California, Irvine, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 2009. While at UCI, he competed on the taekwondo team and worked as a community service officer for the campus police.

In July 2010, Ricardo enlisted in the U.S. Army. He completed One Station Unit Training, the Basic Airborne Course, and the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program at Fort Benning, Georgia. In March 2011, he was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and later deployed to Afghanistan. On October 8, 2011, Ricardo was killed by small-arms fire during combat in Logar Province. In an act of extraordinary bravery, he exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue his wounded platoon sergeant and shielded his fellow Rangers from a gr***de blast. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

Ricardo’s legacy lives on through his family, friends, and fellow soldiers. His courage and selflessness inspired others, including Shawn Patterson, who honored his memory through the Legacy Challenge: Trek to Tribute—a 425-mile journey from Dana Point to Salinas. A bronze statue of Ricardo now stands in Salinas’s Central Park, a lasting tribute to his sacrifice and service.

10/06/2026

Is it too early to be thinking about the Army Navy Game in December?

We don't think so ☺️ but in the meantime come enjoy this great recap of last years event where we hosted our Gold Star Families in Baltimore, MD.

P.S Just incase you are counting there are 67 days until we all meet with our GSF again 💛

10/06/2026

It’s race week and we want to thank our friends at patriots6alliance who are raising funds to send Gold Star Families to the Army Navy Weekend in December!

10/04/2026

Today marks the 16th angelversary of SPC Ryane G. Clark, U.S. Army.

Ryane grew up in New London, Minnesota, where he developed a love for hunting and the outdoors. He graduated from New London-Spicer High School in 2007, where he wrestled on the school team, and completed the law enforcement program at Alexandria Technical College in 2009.

He enlisted in the National Guard in 2008 before joining the U.S. Army. Assigned to the 57th Sapper Company, 27th Combat Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he deployed to Afghanistan in December 2009. On October 4, 2010, while riding in the lead vehicle of a convoy, he was killed when it was struck by a rocket-propelled gr***de during an attack.

From a young age, Ryane had a strong sense of service. When he was ten, his friend Cody Berg was killed while riding his bike along County Road 31. Five years later, for his Eagle Scout project, he sought to honor Cody by creating a safer parking area along that same road. Though bureaucratic hurdles ultimately halted the effort, he redirected his energies and completed a service project at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. After his death, his parents fulfilled his original vision. The newly paved parking lot—adorned with flagpoles, statues, and plaques—now stands as a memorial to both him and his childhood friend.

Further honoring his memory, a portion of Highway 23 between Spicer and New London was renamed the Specialist Ryane G. Clark Memorial Highway. His legacy lives on through his family, friends, comrades, and the many reminders of his service in his hometown.

09/30/2026

We are excited to be partnering with the Patriots SIX Alliance and Drew Ross Memorial Foundation at the Army 10 Miler on October 11th!

Over the Army Ten-Miler weekend, we're rucking the National Mall with Patriots SIX Alliance and Legacies Alive. Every step carries a name. Every team member carries a fallen hero and their Gold Star family.

But you don't have to be in D.C. to carry them with us.

Wherever you are on October 11, throw on a DRMF shirt if you have one, grab your pack, and go for a ruck. One mile or ten. Around the block or around your town.

Carry someone with you. A name, a face, a memory. Then send us your photo and tell us who you carried.

We'll be sharing them all week. Because legacy doesn't live in one place. It lives in everyone who picks up the weight and keeps moving.

Ruck with us. Tag us or send your photo, and we'll carry them forward together.

09/28/2026

Today marks the 18th angelversary of LT Michael R. Perich, U.S. Navy.

Michael grew up in Center Township, Pennsylvania, in a family that valued faith, fitness, and service—principles that shaped his character and sense of purpose from an early age. His faith in God was foundational, guiding his decisions and strengthening his devotion to both family and country. He graduated from Center Area High School in 2002, where he was a standout athlete who sprinted and threw discus in track and field and played middle linebacker on the football team. Beyond athletics, he developed a passion for leadership and physical challenge, and he was always the one others could count on—ready to help anyone in need. An active member of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, he carried himself with conviction, loyalty, and a love for those around him. After high school, he was appointed to the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, where he played four years of football and earned the respect of teammates and the fear of opposing running backs. His training extended beyond the field to maritime operations, advanced scuba diving, and certification as a diving medical technician, reflecting his love of adventure and his selfless desire to serve a greater cause.

Following his graduation from the Academy, Michael began a career supporting U.S. national security, serving in roles that brought him into paramilitary operations at sea. His devotion to country was a natural extension of the values he had lived since childhood. On September 28, 2008—his 25th birthday—he was part of a four-man team conducting a covert mission in the South China Sea to monitor foreign military activity and deploy surveillance equipment. Operating under hazardous conditions as a tropical storm approached, the team lost all communication after their vessel entered the storm.

In the years since his disappearance, Michael’s life and sacrifice have been honored in meaningful ways. His family established Crusaders in America, a nonprofit organization that awards scholarships to high school seniors based on physical fitness, community service, and character—values he embodied so fully. To honor Michael and other fallen heroes, his father completed the Legacy Challenge: Cycle to Celebrate, a 2,600-mile bicycle journey from San Diego to New York City. Yet beyond these tributes, it is the man himself who is most deeply missed—his conversations, his passionate opinions, his jokes, his laugh, and his unforgettable smile. Michael’s faith, devotion to country, love for family and friends, and unwavering willingness to serve continue to inspire all who knew him to carry forward his legacy with courage and purpose.

09/24/2026

Today marks the 15th angelversary of SGT Tyler N. Holtz, U.S. Army.

Tyler was raised in Dana Point, California, and graduated from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana in 2007. He played football all four years, earning a reputation as a quiet leader whose discipline and dedication inspired teammates. Off the field, he was known for his kindness, humility, and sense of humor—often called a “gentle giant” for his imposing stature and big heart. He loved the ocean and spent countless hours at the beach. From an early age, he felt called to serve and protect others, and he was determined to become an Army Ranger. Forgoing college after graduation, he committed himself fully to that goal.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman in October 2007. After completing basic training and the basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Georgia, he passed the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program. By July 2008, he had earned a place in B Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. He deployed four times to Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom, first as an anti-tank gunner and later as a team leader. Known as “Incredible Holtz” to his fellow Rangers, he led from the front. On September 24, 2011, while leading an assault in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, he was killed by small-arms fire.

His legacy endures through his family, friends, and fellow soldiers.

09/21/2026

Today marks the 16th angelversary of LT Brendan J. Looney, U.S. Navy.

Brendan grew up in Owings, Maryland, with his five siblings. He graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in 1999, where he excelled as a scholar-athlete in football, baseball, and track. Named team MVP, he helped lead the football team to national recognition and earned the respect of peers and coaches alike for his strong character and tireless work ethic. Although colorblindness initially delayed his admission to the United States Naval Academy, he persevered—first attending the Naval Academy Prep School before earning his place in Annapolis. There, he picked up lacrosse for the first time and quickly became a leader, helping guide the team to the NCAA Finals, where he played alongside his two brothers.

After graduating from the Naval Academy in 2004, he was commissioned as an intelligence officer and assigned to Commander Naval Forces Korea, Detachment Chinhae. Still determined to become a Navy SEAL, he later passed a vision test and was accepted into Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. He graduated as Honor Man of his class—the highest distinction awarded—and went on to serve with SEAL Team 3. Brendan deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, always embodying the values of service, resilience, and teamwork. On September 21, 2010, during his 59th mission, Brendan was killed in a helicopter crash in Ayatalah Village, Afghanistan.

His legacy lives on through his wife, Amy; his extended family; friends; and teammates who continue to honor his memory.