Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L. Davis will be at Winona Lake Park May 25 for a Memorial Day presentation at the Tracey Yeager Memorial 5K.
Veterans can register for free, and family pricing is available for the annual event. More information and online registration is available at www.TYM5K.com
Davis joined the U.S. Army from Indianapolis in 1965. As a private first class in November 1967, wounded and under intense enemy fire, Davis crossed a river to rescue three wounded soldiers near Cai Lay, Vietnam, according to information from event organizers. A year later Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor, and is now one of the fewer than 80 living Medal of Honor recipients.
The footage from his ceremony was used as source materials for the movie “Forrest Gump,” where the fictional character was awarded the Medal of Honor, the release states.
Proceeds from the race, established in memory of Winona Lake resident and veteran Tracey Yeager, benefit the Tracey's Trails Fund. The fund helps to build, improve or maintain areas for outdoor family recreation and fitness in Kosciusko County. The 2014 event raised $35,000, which was donated to the Limitless Park in Winona Lake. The three events to date have raised nearly $90,000 which has gone back into the community.
Yeager graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990 and served as a Naval officer, flying CH-46 helicopters. She earned the rank of lieutenant, and resigned in 1999 to pursue her calling as a wife and mother of three young children. She passed away in 2010 from cancer, but lived her life as a model of faith, strength, and courage, inspiring those around her, according to event organizers. The Memorial Day run was begun to honor her passion for faith, family, friends, fitness and fellowship.
The 5K is sponsored by Admiral level sponsors: Wildman Business Group, SYM Financial Advisors, PAYPROTEC and Seymour Midwest; Commander level sponsors: Pulse FM, Flexaust, Tecomet, Nest Furniture and Design and Mason Geiger Photography and Film; Lieutenant sponsors: Brian Peterson Group, Silveus Insurance Group, Skyline Builders, Warsaw Women’s Center, DePuy Synthes, Heiman Construction, Rabb Water Systems, Harmony Marketing Group and WRSW.
(Story By The Times Union)
