This October, Alicia Shields will run the Marine Corps Marathon with wear blue: run to remember in honor of her father, Cpl Edward A Johnston. As the wear blue community awaits word on the marathon’s format, Alicia and her teammates remain steadfast in their mission—to honor the fallen and finish 26.2 miles in our nation’s capital.

Anne Lente is taking on the Marine Corps Marathon to honor her late husband, LCpl Jay L. Lente. With grit, discipline, and a determination to persevere, Anne runs to celebrate his life, legacy, and love—and to inspire others navigating grief.

After the loss of her son, Marine Corps Sgt. Jake Hess, Keirsten Lyons found a way to carry his memory with her—mile by mile. Running became both a lifeline and a tribute, helping her transform grief into purpose. This October, she’ll run the Marine Corps Marathon with wear blue, honoring Jake and inspiring others to do the same.

After the loss of her brother, USMC CPT Dustin Lukasiewicz, Danielle Kersten found healing and connection through running. What began as training for a 5K with her sister has grown into a decade-long journey of remembrance, milestones, and personal growth. This October, Danielle will run the Marine Corps Marathon with wear blue, honoring her brother and carrying his story with every step.

Liana Borel is preparing for her first marathon with the Gold Star and Survivor Endurance Program, honoring her late husband, CPT Thomas Borel. Alongside her inspiring cohort, who support each other through every long run, Liana is turning each mile into a step of remembrance and healing. This October, the tribute wear blue Mile will honor over 275 military service members, highlighting the power of community, connection, and purposeful action.

Julia is running the Marine Corps Marathon in memory of her brother, Army CPT Thomas Borel, honoring the bond they shared through running. Alongside her sister-in-law, Liana, Julia will take every step with purpose and remembrance. This year, BlueCross BlueShield proudly sponsors the wear blue mile, giving athletes like Julia a meaningful way to celebrate and remember the heroes in their lives as they run through the heart of our Nation’s capital.

Meet the six incredible wear blue: run to remember Ambassadors debuting at the Marine Corps Marathon. This new program brings together dedicated community supporters from across North America who will run in blue, honoring the fallen, supporting the fighting, and amplifying wear blue’s mission through their social reach and advocacy. Unlike many of wear blue’s programs that serve Gold Star and Surviving families, the Ambassador Program is open to all community members, offering a new way to take purposeful steps in remembrance.

On September 12, 2025, veterans, students, corporate leaders, and volunteers will gather at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota, for Uniting in Service Minneapolis. Hosted by ZeroMils and presented by Wells Fargo, the event is part of a growing movement to transform remembrance of 9/11 into a renewed call to serve.

The day will feature a community tribute run led by wear blue: run to remember, a 5,000-food bag packing project with Blessings in a Backpack, and a Spartan DEKA STRONG fitness challenge. Together, these efforts demonstrate the power of service as a unifying force—bridging divides, reigniting purpose, and inspiring the next generation to lead through service.

Cydney Guard, surviving spouse of SFC Nicholas Guard, is pushing past her own limits as she trains for the Marine Corps Marathon through the Gold Star and Survivor Endurance Program. From seven miles to 26.2, she runs not only to honor her husband but to show her children the power of resilience. Along the way, the wear blue Mile, lined with flags and ribbons, sponsored by JLL, honoring fallen heroes, will remind her—and every runner—that they are never alone.

We are honored to celebrate Krista Simpson Anderson, a beloved member of the wear blue community, whose inspiring story was recently featured in We Are The Mighty’s Mighty 25. After the loss of her husband, Green Beret Staff Sgt. Michael Simpson, Krista transformed her grief into purpose—founding The Unquiet Professional and continuing to empower military families with strength and compassion.