Memorial Day Weekend 🇺🇸

This weekend has been full of meaningful moments thanks to some incredible friends, community events and organizations. Yesterday morning, I had the chance to take part in the 19th Annual Coopersburg 5K for Pulmonary Fibrosis, hosted by the amazing Wescoe Foundation. It’s always inspiring to see people come together to support such an important cause; raising awareness and helping those impacted by the disease. You can learn more about the Wescoe Foundation and the work they do here. https://wescoe.org/

It was a privilege to spend the early hours with Chris Sykora and the challenge of the run with Kimberly Jaramillo! I really enjoyed catching up with friends, chatting with supporters, and meeting some new faces. Everyone brought their own energy to the event, and it was just one of those moments that reminds you how special our community really is.

After the run, my wife and I took the rest of the morning to celebrate our son and everything he’s accomplished this school year. He’s been working hard, both academically and socially, and we wanted to let him know how proud we are. While we were out, we spoke to a Veteran collecting donations for the VFW. It led to a really meaningful conversation with my son about Memorial Day and the importance of honoring those who gave everything for our country. On Memorial Day, May 26th 2025, my son and I joined several friends at the 11th Annual Upper Saucon Memorial Day Honor and Remember Event. The Guest of Honor was Gold Star Mother Ruth Harton. She shared heartfelt memories of her son, Army Corporal Joshua A. Harton, who was killed in an ambush in Afghanistan in 2010 during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) at the age of 23. She spoke of the close bond he had with his friends and fellow soldiers, and how fiercely he protected and cared for those he loved.

The organization Tails for Valor, which trains service dogs to assist veterans coping with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), honors fallen soldiers by naming their dogs after them. This Memorial Day, they named one of their service dogs in memory of Corporal Joshua A. Harton. The touching tribute was followed by a 2-mile walk, run, or bike ride on what is turning out to be the sunniest day of the week.