Latest news with #TheFreedom13
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bar crawl honors legacy of fallen Missouri Marine Jared Schmitz
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – For the fourth straight year, loved ones came together for a pub crawl honoring U.S. Marines Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, a Wentzville native who was killed as U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. What started as a way to keep his memory alive has turned into a movement. Jared's parents, Mark and Jaclyn Schmitz, took their grief and turned it into action, founding The Freedom 13, an organization dedicated to honoring fallen heroes by supporting veterans still with us. Saturday's pub crawl spanned 23 bars across the St. Louis area, all raising funds to help build and run Freedom 13 camps. The first Freedom 13 Camp is taking shape on 171 acres in Bourbon, Missouri. Thirteen houses will be built, each dedicated to one of the service members killed. Every location will have a house dedicated to Jared. To learn more about The Freedom 13 movement, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Yahoo
Pub crawl planned to celebrate fallen marine's 24th birthday
ST. LOUIS – Bars and pubs across the St. Louis are gearing up for a big event celebrating a fallen U.S. Marine from Wentzville, Missouri. The fourth annual Marine Lance Cpl Jared Schmitz Pub Crawl will take place at nearly three dozen locations in the north and southern parts of the metro area. Schmitz was among the 13 troops killed during evacuations in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August of 2021. Former deputy alleges St. Louis sheriff made him roll dice to keep his job Since then, his father, Mark, has made a point to honor Jared on his birthday, starting with his milestone 21st. 'Just to have people I've never met, singing 'Happy Birthday,' and holding up pictures of my son. It just tugs at my heartstrings,' Mark said. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Freedom 13, a not-for-profit organization Mark Schmitz set up to honor the 13 troops and all veterans. The Freedom 13 has already set up the first of 50 veterans retreats, with plans for one in every state. The first one is located in Bourbon, Missouri. For more information on the pub crawl and how to support The Freedom 13, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
