We will close the month with a powerful community effort called The Piestewa Challenge. This event honors the 179 women who have given their lives in combat operations around the globe since 9/11, 177 of which died during the Global War on Terrorism Campaign (GWOT), as well as ALL women who have died while in service to our nation. This effort is inspired by the sacrifice of SPC Lori Ann Piestewa. SPC Piestewa is the first Native American woman service member to be killed in combat on foreign soil, as well as the first female service member killed in Iraq.

Launching on 23 March 2024, we invite our community to create squad-sized teams of 8, and collectively move 200 miles through 29 March to honor the lives of ALL women who died while in service. If you are re-joining us for the 2024 Piestewa Challenge, you will see that we adjusted the mileage for our event from 177 to 200 miles. The additional 23 miles are a symbolic tribute to the 23 years since the beginning of combat operations following 9/11. Each additional mile represents all women who died while in service to our nation during each of those 23 years. wear blue supports families of all fallen service members, and honors all those who wear a uniform, regardless of the manner in which they lost their lives.

Each step will honor the women who made the ultimate sacrifice, celebrate the women who were willing to make such sacrifices, and unite our community with a shared effort of purpose, health, and connection.

 To learn more about SPC Piestewa’s story, click here. 

MORE THAN VIRTUAL

Each year on 23 March at Piestewa Peak in Phoenix, AZ, SPC Lori Piestewa’s Hopi and other Native communities remember her and all women who have died while in service to our nation. By joining this effort, you are also recognizing the sacrifices of women from Indigenous and other underrepresented communities. Together, we can show we value and appreciate all women in the military.

wear blue will host three in-person Circles of Remembrance again this year on March 23, 2024 

• Washington, D.C.: 8:30AM at the Military Women’s Memorial Upper Terrace in Arlington National Cemetery

• Phoenix, AZ: 4:00PM at the Ocotillo Ramada at the start of the Piestewa Peak trailhead in Phoenix Mountain Preserve.

  • Shuttles from Lincoln Heights Christian Church to Octotillo Ramada will run from 2:30 to 3:30 PM.

• Dupont, WA: 8:45 AM at DuPont Powder Works Park

We also invite you to join us at various wear blue communities on March 23, 2024 for an in-person launch and Circle of Remembrance. Check with your local community to see if they will be participating.