Boots On Ground Group Recognized by City

Mando Guerrero, Celina Gonzales, Javier Mendez, Jeffrey Rosas, Mary Cardona and Leroy Diaz were given the Boots On Ground award in recognition of their determined efforts and time put in to the mud run obstacle course and the 5K & 10K run.

City Manager, Mark Milum shared a little of the history of how the project began with Councilman Javier Mendez and City Finance Director, Celina Gonzales first introducing the idea of the endurance mud run that serves as a way of honoring fallen veterans as well as those who have served in the military. The endurance run was designed to develop a well-rounded understanding of team work and mental and physical toughness. Last year the project included some thirty obstacles and over 600 participants. Councilman Mendez, speaking of the group who organized and made the project happen, said “it seemed like all week it rained and was cold, but they never gave up, they were out late at night working”.

“God blessed us with a lot of rain which made it tougher” added Mendez describing the endurance run. The group was then individually recognized with a Boots On Ground plague. It is important to note that two of the group; Mando Guerrero and Leroy Diaz are Military Veterans, of the Marines and Army branches respectively.