Common Marine, Uncommon American meets Uncommon Company

NAPA Comes Thru For MSgt. White - He Exceeded His Goal For The Marine Corps Marathon!!

A few days ago, when I gave you an update on MSgt. White and his marathon run, he had only reached 43% of his fund raising goal.  He was positive that he would make his goal!

Quite frankly, I was worried, as the donations had been completely flat for so long.  Then there was a flurry of donating this past week, but they only brought the total up to first 38% and then 43%.  I was in email contact with Jon during the week, and he was excited by the donations that had come in.  He then assured me that he would have the money in hand before he stepped foot on the race course, this Sunday morning.

The MSgt. had mentioned having an "ace up his sleeve" but I wasn't so sure.  Let this be a lesson to myself and anyone else who has been following their progress.......NEVER doubt a Marine when he says he has an ace up his sleeve.  I am embarrassed to admit, I was doubtful.

I don't know all the details as of yet, and probably won't until sometime next week, but this I do know.  The MSgt. was on a pretty tight schedule, had it all planned out, for when he, Peg and Joshua would arrive in DC.  Don't forget, he was coming in from Germany, and  (Jon had to go to 29 Palms, CA the week before the marathon for desert training, which meant Peg had to travel alone with Joshua from Germany to D.C.) we all know how the military can have a sudden need and plans will change.  No problems with that, it was clear sailing, they were all set to arrive on Friday  Thursday evening, giving them a day to unwind and prepare for the race, early Sunday morning.

Little did he realize, that a week prior to his leaving, he would be asked to stop over in Atlanta Friday night, and on Saturday speak before a group of business owners at their convention.  Turns out, that NAPA had been looking around for a cause to support, they came across the fund raiser Jon was doing along with his wife and son for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.  They were interested in making a donation, and would he please come and speak to them at their convention.   "NAPA  was having a semi-annual convention to discuss the upcoming year.  One of their family ran across the article YOU wrote and brought it to the attention of their Chairman and Staff.  (This is a VERY Patriotic group of individuals)  That’s when NAPA got the idea to support the Injured Marine Fund.  A Mrs Amy Feste went to extraordinary lengths to track me down.  They had done a ton of research on Team Semper Fi and why we were running AND because there are a lot of veterans in the NAPA family."   "How could I refuse?" he told me on Friday, while waiting for his plane.  So Jon took a detour by himself to Atlanta, arriving very late Friday night (Saturday morning at 1am or 0100).  He  They would not get into DC until very late Saturday night.

All I can tell you is this.  His donation site shows his fund raising to be at 118% of his goal, with a total amount collected of $5912.  I couldn't believe it when I looked before shutting down my computer!!!!!  Wow!!!  Thanks to those 450 business owners from NAPA, they made their goal, and then some!

NAPA I want to extend a huge THANK YOU for your part in helping not only MSgt. White and his family meet their fund raisng goal, but more importantly for supporting the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.  Your money will mean a great deal to those Marines, Sailors and their families.

I also want to thank all the individuals who donated to Jonathan's cause.  He exceeded his goal because each and every one of you stepped up to the plate for him and those Marines, Sailors and their families!  Congratulations!

Thank you all for your generosity!!

I am still curious as to how NAPA found out about him.  As soon as more details become available you will be able to read about it here on this site!  Any corrections for accuracy will be made at that time, or as soon as the facts become available to me.

I have their bib numbers, and I believe I will be able to track their progress at the online Marathon site.  Each one has an individual GPS for tracking their times as they pass by checkpoints.  I also will update you on how Sgt. "TJ" Edwards did in the marathon.

I don't see how I am going to be able to sleep tonight, I am so excited for Jon, Peg and Joshua.  There were some weather concerns, it was rainy there today, but I just checked and it is clearing.  Tomorrow it should be sunny with a high of 70 degrees.  Sounds pretty near perfect conditions to me!

It will be fun to get the details on how their journey ended.  Sunday, they will each travel 26.2 miles, hopefully, injury free.  God Bless them all.  More to follow next week!

Copyright 2008 MsMarti. All rights reserved.

This article was edited on 11/5/08 by MsMarti.  A final update on this effort can be found here!

A few days ago, when I gave you an update on MSgt. White and his marathon run, he had only reached 43% of his fund raising goal.  He was positive that he would make his goal!

Quite frankly, I was worried, as the donations had been completely flat for so long.  Then there was a flurry of donating this past week, but they only brought the total up to first 38% and then 43%.  I was in email contact with Jon during the week, and he was excited by the donations that had come in.  He then assured me that he would have the money in hand before he stepped foot on the race course, this Sunday morning.

The MSgt. had mentioned having an "ace up his sleeve" but I wasn't so sure.  Let this be a lesson to myself and anyone else who has been following their progress.......NEVER doubt a Marine when he says he has an ace up his sleeve.  I am embarrassed to admit, I was doubtful.

I don't know all the details as of yet, and probably won't until sometime next week, but this I do know.  The MSgt. was on a pretty tight schedule, had it all planned out, for when he, Peg and Joshua would arrive in DC.  Don't forget, he was coming in from Germany, and  (Jon had to go to 29 Palms, CA the week before the marathon for desert training, which meant Peg had to travel alone with Joshua from Germany to D.C.) we all know how the military can have a sudden need and plans will change.  No problems with that, it was clear sailing, they were all set to arrive on Friday  Thursday evening, giving them a day to unwind and prepare for the race, early Sunday morning.

Little did he realize, that a week prior to his leaving, he would be asked to stop over in Atlanta Friday night, and on Saturday speak before a group of business owners at their convention.  Turns out, that NAPA had been looking around for a cause to support, they came across the fund raiser Jon was doing along with his wife and son for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.  They were interested in making a donation, and would he please come and speak to them at their convention.   "NAPA  was having a semi-annual convention to discuss the upcoming year.  One of their family ran across the article YOU wrote and brought it to the attention of their Chairman and Staff.  (This is a VERY Patriotic group of individuals)  That’s when NAPA got the idea to support the Injured Marine Fund.  A Mrs Amy Feste went to extraordinary lengths to track me down.  They had done a ton of research on Team Semper Fi and why we were running AND because there are a lot of veterans in the NAPA family."   "How could I refuse?" he told me on Friday, while waiting for his plane.  So Jon took a detour by himself to Atlanta, arriving very late Friday night (Saturday morning at 1am or 0100).  He  They would not get into DC until very late Saturday night.

All I can tell you is this.  His donation site shows his fund raising to be at 118% of his goal, with a total amount collected of $5912.  I couldn't believe it when I looked before shutting down my computer!!!!!  Wow!!!  Thanks to those 450 business owners from NAPA, they made their goal, and then some!

NAPA I want to extend a huge THANK YOU for your part in helping not only MSgt. White and his family meet their fund raisng goal, but more importantly for supporting the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.  Your money will mean a great deal to those Marines, Sailors and their families.

I also want to thank all the individuals who donated to Jonathan's cause.  He exceeded his goal because each and every one of you stepped up to the plate for him and those Marines, Sailors and their families!  Congratulations!

Thank you all for your generosity!!

I am still curious as to how NAPA found out about him.  As soon as more details become available you will be able to read about it here on this site!  Any corrections for accuracy will be made at that time, or as soon as the facts become available to me.

I have their bib numbers, and I believe I will be able to track their progress at the online Marathon site.  Each one has an individual GPS for tracking their times as they pass by checkpoints.  I also will update you on how Sgt. "TJ" Edwards did in the marathon.

I don't see how I am going to be able to sleep tonight, I am so excited for Jon, Peg and Joshua.  There were some weather concerns, it was rainy there today, but I just checked and it is clearing.  Tomorrow it should be sunny with a high of 70 degrees.  Sounds pretty near perfect conditions to me!

It will be fun to get the details on how their journey ended.  Sunday, they will each travel 26.2 miles, hopefully, injury free.  God Bless them all.  More to follow next week!

Copyright 2008 MsMarti. All rights reserved.

This article was edited on 11/5/08 by MsMarti.  A final update on this effort can be found here!