What does it mean to sacrifice for someone you’ve never met? In this episode of Patriot to the Core, Thad Forester sits down with his young boys and their friends who completed the Mark Forester JAG 28 Memorial Birthday Walk — a tribute to Senior Airman Mark Forester, who gave his life in Afghanistan on September 29, 2010, earning him the Silver Star.
These kids didn’t grow up knowing Mark. He was killed before they were born. But Thad’s boys have known of their uncle their entire lives — and this year, they laced up their shoes, hit the pavement, and pushed through real physical pain and discomfort to honor his memory. Some walked 25 continuous miles, some 36 miles, and others completed all 45 miles (17 hours) — representing how old Mark would have been this year. In their own words, they share what the JAG 28 Birthday Walk meant to them, how they kept going when it got hard, and what they learned about sacrifice, legacy, and showing up even when it’s tough.
In the second half of the episode, the boys reflect on their recent experience at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day — a place they say every young American should visit.
This is a conversation that will remind you why we remember, why we walk, and why the story of Senior Airman Mark Forester — JAG 28 — lives on, one generation at a time.
Copyright 2026 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
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