While many college students are spending spring break frolicking on a sun splashed, sandy beach, a group of students at Troy University are hitting the pavement to support veterans.
Members of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity are walking 128 miles, from Troy, Alabama to Panama City Beach, Florida, as part “Walk Hard,” an annual fundraiser for veterans. Forty-four students began the trek from the Troy campus on Friday and reached Bonifay, Florida, on Sunday.
Crossing into the Florida panhandle was a welcome respite for Alpha Tau Omega member Ben Hollensworth.
“We just crossed over into Florida, which is always a huge morale booster,” Hollensworth told WMBB in Panama City. “Florida’s a whole lot flatter than Alabama, which is very nice.”
Funds raised from “Walk Hard” will go to Jeep Sullivan’s Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures, an organization that assists wounded veterans to enjoy recreational programs in nature and other rehabilitation activities to improve physical and mental health.
The Story of Paul Kozak
Before departing from Alabama, the fraternity brothers met with Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr., who shared the emotional story of Paul Kozak, a soldier under his command in Vietnam.
”At Arlington National Cemetery … we buried a man that had been to this campus many times to participate and attend the military appreciation games that we hold every year, that we hold here,” Hawkins said, according to The Messenger. “He was wounded on 19 September 1968, and I'll tell you the circumstances, and then I’m going to ask the voice of the Trojans, Barry McKnight, to read the short story that he wrote about that experience.
“Our mission every day was to clear the mines and booby traps from roads and go on patrols. And so, it was on this particular day in September of 1968 that we had finished that mine sweep, as it was referred to. Behind the team that swept the roads was a truck on which a .50 caliber machine gun was mounted, and there were three Marines on the back of that truck.
“Inside the cab was Paul Kozak. He was the driver on that particular truck. Unfortunately, our Navy corpsman climbed into that cab, and when they went into the village, they hit a mine, his life changed and the lives of several of those Marines ended.”
Kozak survived the devastating explosion, but his recovery was long and grueling, followed by 37 surgeries to repair 80 percent of his body charred by burns. Kozak eventually wrote about the day his life changed forever, and Troy University sports announcer Barry McKnight shared Kozak’s story to the fraternity before they left for Florida.
No doubt, it served as motivational fuel for their long journey.
“I think that captures the essence of what Jeep is attempting to do, and that is to say, thank you,” Hawkins said. “Thank you. I want to thank all of you. I want to again tell you how proud I am of you. And I want to finish by simply reporting from Churchill, as I did to begin with, when Churchill, that famous saying, ‘Never, never, never give up.’ What I say to you is, when you think about the pain that you’re going to experience, and you will, that’s a long way to go, but it's worth it. Don’t think about the pain. You think about those men and women you’re going to help and keep your eyes on the beach. You’re about to experience something that will stay with you the rest of your life. This is the best example of the Greek system in America at work. God bless you. Thank you.”
Hoping to Raise $150K
Hollensworth knows he could be spending his spring break partying in an exotic location with his buddies, but he would rather use that time to raise awareness for veteran programs.
“They’ve protected us, our future families and our families now,” Hollensworth said. “And that means more than anything else in the world to us. And we have no problem giving up our spring break to do something just to give back a little bit and give them the recognition they truly deserve.”
What began 17 years ago as the fraternity’s idea to help veterans has blossomed into an annual event. Every year, a new group of Troy students take on the challenge.
The fraternity reported raising $110,000 as of Sunday. With a strong start, student walkers are hoping to exceed the $140,000 they earned during last year’s “Walk Hard.” The Troy students plan to announce how much money they’ve raised at the end of the walk.
Keeping up its current pace, the group plans to reach their destination – Panama City Beach – by Wednesday.
