Meet Adena Crider: Honoring Her Twin Brother Through Purposeful Steps

Adena Crider works for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as the team leader for the Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP) Program. But beyond her professional life, Adena is navigating a deeply personal journey, one shaped by grief, love, and the courage to move forward. As she approaches the 10-year anniversary of her twin brother’s passing, she is honoring him through action as part of the wear blue Gold Star Survivor Endurance Program (GSSEP).

Adena runs in memory of her twin brother, Sgt. James Matthew “Matt” Crider, 12 February 2016. Matt was full of energy and rambunctious spirit, but beneath that playful nature was one of the most caring and selfless hearts she has ever known. He loved serving others, whether it was alongside his fellow soldiers or as a devoted father. As fraternal twins, their relationship was filled with both closeness and classic sibling rivalry. Matt never let Adena forget that he was one minute older and at over six feet tall, he made sure to remind her of that, too. Even when they didn’t see eye to eye, they always found ways to encourage and lift one another up.

For years, grief made it harder for Adena to say her brother’s name aloud or keep his memory present in everyday life. Her introduction to wear blue came through a moment of quiet beauty and connection. A couple of years ago, her wife had the honor of mentoring and running a 5K with Adena’s niece (Matt’s daughter) as part of her own wear blue experience through the Gold Star Youth Mentorship Program. Watching that moment unfold left a lasting impression. At the time, Adena never imagined she would be the one lacing up her shoes.

That changed when she received an email through Survivor Outreach Services about the Cowtown GSSEP. It felt like a calling. “It felt like God was telling me it was my turn,” Adena shares. “My turn to work through my grief, remember my brother, and get moving again.”

Through wear blue, Adena has found a space where grief is met with understanding and movement is met with purpose. The Circle of Remembrance with her cohort has helped her say Matt’s name again, share his story, and remember not only how he died, but how he lived. The program has stirred up uncomfortable feelings, but in a safe place, and reminded her to focus on the joy, love, and connection that still remain.

Running hasn’t come easily. Adena is honest about that. But movement has become a way to unfreeze from grief, to step out of her head, and to honor Matt in a way that feels active and alive. She finds motivation in imagining her brother laughing, teasing her, and challenging her, just like he always did. In those moments, the bond they shared feels present again, just in a different form.

A Texas native, avid fisher, and loving wife to Brittany, a USAFR Veteran, Adena is also navigating this journey alongside the wear blue community that has given her a place to belong. What began as something she never expected to do has become a powerful act of remembrance.

Through every step, Adena is honoring her twin brother not just with memory, but with movement. She is doing something incredible, turning grief and honor into action, one step at a time.