Meet Alicia: Honoring Her Father’s Legacy at the Marine Corps Marathon

Alicia Shields is running the Marine Corps Marathon in honor of her father, Marine Cpl Edward A Johnston, who was known for his honesty, humility, and selflessness. “Even though I was very young when my father was killed, he has always been my hero,” Alicia shares. “His legacy continues to guide me every single day, and I strive to live in a way that would make him proud.”

For Alicia, training for the marathon has been more than a physical challenge—it’s “a journey of healing, self-discovery, and remembrance. Running gives me space to reflect on his life, his sacrifice, and the strength he instilled in me.” Each mile she runs is a step toward honoring her father’s legacy while reclaiming her own story—one of resilience, strength, and forward motion.

Now, just two weeks from race day, Alicia and eleven fellow wear blue Gold Star and Survivor Endurance Program athletes are ready to take on the Marine Corps Marathon—each running for a fallen hero and the families who carry their memory forward. As the community awaits official word on whether the marathon will move to an all-virtual format, one thing remains certain: the wear blue community will ascend on Washington, D.C.

No matter the course or conditions, our wear blue ambassadors, fundraisers, and supporters—like Andy Moore and Tracy Reade—will be there to ensure our twelve Endurance Program athletes finish what they started and complete 26.2 miles in our nation’s capital. Together, they will honor the fallen, support the fighting, and stand shoulder to shoulder as a living memorial of remembrance and hope.

Through every stride, Alicia and her teammates remind us that remembrance is not bound by location or circumstance—it’s carried in the heart, and it moves us all forward.