University of Miami ROTC Honors 9/11 Victims with 9.11-Mile Ruck

Annual Ruck to Remember

• 🗓️ The University of Miami's ROTC program hosted its sixth annual 9/11 Ruck to Remember event.
• 📍 The 9.11-mile ruck began on campus and concluded in Coconut Grove.

Honoring 9/11 Victims

• 💔 The event served as a solemn tribute to remember the lives lost on September 11th, 2001.
• 🚶 Participants carried a 35 lb ruck (rucksack) to symbolize the weight of the tragedy and the service members' efforts.
• 🇺🇸 A massive group of over 150 participants ran, with a fire truck and a large American flag overhead at the finish line.
• 🔇 A particularly moving moment included a moment of silence, emphasizing the deeper meaning behind the miles.

Personal Significance and Motivation

• 🎗️ The ruck is described as being "for a purpose" and not just a typical walk, aiming to keep the memory of 9/11 alive.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For some, the event holds personal significance, with participants coming from first responder families or having direct connections to the events of 9/11.
• 💪 Participants motivated each other, focusing on "one foot in front of the other" to push through the challenging distance and weight.
• 🧑‍🚒 One participant, Glenn Perez, wore a full firefighter uniform to honor service members, receiving a fitting greeting from firefighters at the end.