Annually the Appalachian State ROTC Cadets travel to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to take part in the Mountain Man Memorial March. The event honors Gold Star families, the sacrifices they have endured, and the ultimate sacrifice our service members have made. The Mountain Man Memorial March also serves as a way for Cadets to show what they are made of and put forth their best during the half or full-marathon ruck march-- either as a five-member team or as individuals. Each participant in the Full and Half event competes in military boots and pants and carries a 35-pound rucksack. There is also the opportunity for 10K, half marathon, and marathon runners. The event hosted over 900 competitors and several military and ROTC teams. Appalachian State brought six teams total (four men's teams and two female teams) and many individual racers. Over 53 App ROTC members were in attendance as competitors or support personnel helping with teams during the race and at our water point. A male full marathon team has taken home first place for the past nine years that the event has been conducted in person! App State not only took first place for the male full marathon event but also third this year.
First Place Team Members were Juniors: Liam Dolan, Eddie Graham, Seth Perkins, Eric Baukema and Freshman Jeffrey Nisbett. Pictured Below.
Third Place Team members were: RJ Havens, Aidan Fox, Andrew Hooks, William Gulley and Corey Snodgrass. Pictured Below.
Additionally, Cadet Joey Manganaro placed 2nd in the 20-29 age group Full Marathon Run and Cadet Annie Forgrave placed 2nd in the Half Marathon Ruck. Both Pictured Below.
The teams march in Honor of the Program’s Fallen, including Cadet Hasbrouck, an Appalachian State ROTC Cadet who passed away during the Mountain Man Memorial March on April 21st, 2012. Cadet Hasbrouck's mother, Patricia Hasbrouck, has made an appearance each year to support App State in her son's remembrance. The Cadets were able to meet with Ms. Hasboruk the night before the race at the God Star Family Ceremony.
The annual Mountain Man Memorial March (MMMM) honors the Nation's fallen service members and their Gold Star families. It was originally organized as a way to honor 1LT Frank B. Walkup IV, a 2005 University of Tennessee graduate and ROTC alumnus, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2007. The University of Tennessee ROTC hosts the event in Gatlinburg Tennessee where 1LT Walkup was from and trained. We greatly appreciate UT’s hosting and dedication to running this event.
Fire On the Mountain!
Winning Team
Winning Team