Juanita Bowling is a devoted mother, volunteer, and Gold Star mother honoring the life and legacy of her son, PFC Frank Jeremy Castillo, U.S. Army. Through running, service, and a steadfast commitment to self-care, Juanita transforms grief into purposeful action, carrying Frank’s name forward with every mile she runs. As a Cowtown Half Marathon athlete in the Gold Star and Survivor Endurance Program, she inspires strength, balance, and hope in communities across Texas and beyond.

What began as a quiet sunrise hike through Phoenix’s Papago Park became an unexpected encounter with active remembrance. As the desert sky slowly filled with light, Phillip D. Cortez found himself standing within the Tribute wear blue Mile surrounded by Gold Star and Surviving families, flag bearers, and the faces of fallen service members honored one by one. In that stillness, amid prayers, flags, and footsteps, the silence of the desert gave way to stories of love, loss, and a community determined to ensure that no name is ever forgotten.

Read the full story, “Active Remembrance: When the Desert Silence Finds a Voice,” by Phillip D. Cortez.

After four decades of running and eight marathons, Gail Dwyer thought her days on the road were behind her. But when she lost her oldest son, CW3 Steve Dwyer, Jr., an Army special operations aviator killed in the line of duty, running called her back. What began as a return to movement became a lifeline, one step at a time, guiding her through grief, remembrance, and healing. As a Gold Star mother and Cowtown Half Marathon athlete with wear blue: run to remember, Gail runs not for pace or medals, but to honor her son, to serve others, and to keep moving forward when life feels impossibly uphill.

At Rock ’n’ Roll Arizona, thousands of runners encountered a mile that asked them to slow down and remember. Through a powerful partnership with Wounded Warrior Project, the wear blue Mile honored fallen service members and created space for reflection, healing, and connection.

Erica Grone never considered herself a runner until she chose to honor her son. This March, the New Hampshire mother will run the Cowtown Half Marathon with wear blue: run to remember in memory of SSG Tanner Wolf Grone. Inspired by her daughter Emily and guided by the Night Stalker motto “Don’t Quit,” Erica has turned grief into purpose one mile at a time. Her journey is a powerful reminder that love endures, families persevere, and no one runs alone.

Every race weekend begins with miles and logistics, but for the athletes of the wear blue: run to remember Gold Star and Survivor Endurance Program, the journey to Cowtown is about far more. This year’s Cowtown Half Marathon cohort is made up of mothers, fathers, spouses, siblings, and children who are running in honor of loved ones who served and sacrificed. Over the coming weeks, we will share their powerful stories of remembrance, resilience, and community as they prepare to ensure their heroes are never forgotten.

wear blue: run to remember is honored to welcome Lieutenant General (Ret) Donna W Martin to our Board of Directors. A lifelong servant leader and former 67th Inspector General of the U.S. Army, LTG Martin brings decades of experience, integrity, and a deeply personal connection to wear blue’s mission through her participation in the Williamsburg Community Run. Her leadership strengthens our commitment to honoring the fallen while supporting veterans, military families, and survivors through active remembrance.

Nine Gold Star and Survivor Endurance Program alumni traveled to Band of Runners Trail Camp and discovered how wear blue’s Circle of Remembrance can reach far beyond those who wear the shirt. Through shared miles, stories, and spoken names, a diverse community found connection, courage, and healing together.

wear blue: run to remember returned to where it all began with Capturing Honor—a pop-up photo gallery and reception hosted by America’s Credit Union in DuPont. The event showcased powerful images from the Capturing Honor Photo Contest, sponsored by the DuPont Chamber of Commerce, highlighting service, sacrifice, and the deep sense of connection found within the wear blue community. From the organization’s DuPont roots to a nationwide movement of active remembrance, this story honors the moments and the mission captured through the lens.

The Gold Star and Survivor Endurance Program is built on purposeful steps, steps taken in grief, in courage, and in community. Directors Tara Strassburg and Rachel Elizalde-Powell know this intimately. Their six-day, 120-mile TransRockies journey put every lesson they teach into practice: pushing when it hurts, eating when it’s difficult, and leaning on others when the weight of loss grows heavy. Their leadership, along with the dedicated coaching team, reflects the evolution of the program itself, from the original Gold Star Race Program to a mentorship experience honoring survivors, athletes, and the legacies of our fallen.