Minnesota Foundation Takes on a Big Challenge Bryan McDonough was a modest young man with a big heart and an outsized sense of duty. When Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003, McDonough, just 19, took note of the early casualties—many of them soldiers with families. The war, he told his family, should be fought by “guys like me; young and single.” And so he enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard.
Sailors Rally and Run for Tennessee Fisher House
In December of 2006, eight months into his deployment, McDonough was killed by an IED while on patrol in Anbar Province. His close-knit family was devastated. “You can be reclusive for a little while,” his father, Tom McDonough, reflects, “but you can’t live that way. It’s better to be around people.” And so, to keep their son’s name alive, Tom and wife Renee started the Bryan McDonough Military Heroes Foundation.
When Naval Support Activity Mid-South, located in Millington, Tenn., decided to hold a Navy Ten Nautical Miler run, organizers hoped to attract 250 runners. To their delight, the first-ever event drew nearly 460 participants—19 of them on deployment in Farah, Afghanistan. The event—with proceeds supporting the VA Tennessee Valley Fisher House—was held on June 6th, the anniversary of D-Day (it was held a day earlier in Afghanistan).
Their first efforts were to aid a soldier gravely injured when their son was killed. Since then, they have helped many other Minnesota-connected service members and their families. When they learned of Fisher House Foundation’s plan to build a second house at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, they saw a good fit with their mission. The all-volunteer foundation geared up for its biggest challenge ever: raising half the money needed for the house’s construction.
Ten nautical miles is approximately the distance from the seashore to the horizon, or about 11 statute miles. Since no race has been run at this distance before, winner Stephen Hill of Memphis set the record, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:07:23.
“At this time, we’re a long way from where we need to be,” Tom McDonough admits—given that the house is slated to open sometime next year. “It’s a lot harder than you think.” Most people, he notes, have never heard of Fisher House. Once they do, though, “they’re ready to open their hearts.” So far, funds have come from military service groups, a boat ride on the Mississippi River, and sales of a Minnesota Fallen Heroes Remembered calendar. Including funds from a latesummer golf tournament, the foundation has presented Fisher House Foundation with more than $100,000.
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THE PATRIOT • SUMMER/FALL 2010
Top: Bryan McDonough with his parents, Tom and Renee, and sisters and brother, Shannon, Katie and Kevin. Middle: Spec. Bryan McDonough deployed with the Minnesota National Guard to Iraq. Lower: Bryan and his mother, Renee.
Even after the house is complete, McDonough says the partnership will endure. “We will continue our support of Fisher House going forward,” he says, “providing meals, meat for the freezer, those types of things. Maybe a playground. Our purpose is to help military families in Bryan’s name—the more the better.”
Sailors stationed at Forward Operating Base Farah had read about the race in Navy Times and wanted to participate. All finishers received a large anchor medal, which, according to Mid-Tennessee Fisher House Foundation head Andrea Lawrence, was a big hit. “It was a really nice memento of the inaugural event,” she says. “What a wonderful race!!” Jessica Fetter posted on the race’s Facebook page. “I am really looking forward to next year! My husband (who is also a runner but couldn’t participate in this race because of work schedule conflicts) absolutely loves the awesome medal, so he is definitely going to run it next year as well!” Planning is, in fact, already underway for next year’s June 5th race. “At a joint meeting of officials from several Navy bases,” Lawrence says, “other base commanders have indicated that they want to join the race next year to make it a Navy-wide event.”