What significant things can happen in 17 years?

17 years is almost the time it would take to raise a child. If you were in the military, 17 years would put you close to the 20-year point when you could retire. 17 years in a marriage would put you on a good path to a lifelong marriage. Cicadas go underground for 17 years before they appear with all their noise and chirping. If you deposited $100.00 17 years ago and $100.00 each month at 4% interest, you would have $29,149.00.

17 years breaks down into 204 months, 6205 days, 148,920 hours, and 8,935,200 minutes. Hopefully you can look back on your past 17 years and list major accomplishments and changes in your life. At each stage in your life, you have left a footprint and made a mark. We have a choice in our life whether those marks left are impactful and positive or destructive and hurtful.

17 years ago, Navy SEAL Marc Lee made one of the most impactful decisions in his life. He made the choice three different times on Aug 2, 2006, to stand in the line of fire to save his teammates. He made the most selfless sacrifice anyone could ever make.

46 years ago, at the age of 23, recently divorced with a 3-year-old and a 18 month old, poor and pregnant, I made the choice not to have an abortion but keep my baby growing inside my womb. My 3^rd child was Marc, I can’t even imagine how different this world would have been without Marc in it.

17 years ago, I received the most devastating news a parent could ever receive, Marc was gone. I would never hear his voice or laughter again, feel his arms hug me tightly, or his kiss on my cheek. I wouldn’t get to see him enjoy becoming a Daddy or hold his children. He wouldn’t be here to take care of me when I get old. His life was over. He definitely made his mark in this world.

I knew that our family, his friends, and teammates would never forget Marc and would always remember the mark he made on our lives in so many different ways! I had no clue 17 years later, how God would take how Marc lived and died to change millions of lives around the world.

I had no choice the news that was given to me that day BUT I did have a choice how I responded. I could have quit and given up and lived a life of sorrow. I could have focused on the loss and what was taken from me that day. Instead, I chose to focus on the blessings and what I had been given. I was blessed to be Marc’s Mom for 28 years, he was redeployed to Heaven and I know I will see him again when God calls me home.

I’m not sure if God will give me another 17 years on earth, but if He does I will live everyday to the fullest. I will trust Him and follow the direction He sends me, by the strength He gives me.

One thing I know for sure is that God doesn’t waste pain IF we trust Him and allow Him to work in and through us. I started America’s Mighty Warriors early after losing Marc and 17 years later we see such an AMAZING impact that Marc is STILL making. Lives saved, marriages and relationships restored, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing. Lives filled with hope and encouragement to persevere in the valleys and rejoice on the Mountain tops.

I do still hear Marc's voice as his teammates, family, and friends continue to share stories of him. My family has grown from 3 children to hundreds of adopted/inherited children, and I’m blessed with more hugs and grandkids than one could imagine. I see Marc living on through so many as they have been inspired by his amazing last letter home and they continue to #MakeYourMarc.

Marc starts his last letter home with “some men seek glory, other’s find it stumbling on them not expecting it to find them.” Marc wasn’t looking for glory and I’m sure he had no idea how big of a “marc” he would make on this world. Yet glory found Marc, in more ways than one, that’s for sure!

As we honor and remember Marc 17 years after he physically left this world, honor him by accepting his challenge to “pass on the kindness, the love, the precious gift of human life.”

#MakeYourMarc, what are you doing each day in your corner of the world to leave a good imprint. Not everyone is called to impact the world in the major way that Marc did, but make it your goal every day to “Live Your Life Worthy of Their Sacrifice” and #MakeYourMarc in some impactful way.

MommaLee

He gave all so you can live! Marc you are never forgotten 3-20-78 to 8-2-06.

I love when donations are made that have a significant meaning. Here are some of the impactful numbers, 17 years, 8-02-06 when he died, he would be 45, his bday 3-20-78, he served on ST3, his BUDs class 251. #MakeYourMarc

Volunteer of the Month

Todd Weatherford

Todd has been volunteering for America’s Mighty Warriors for 9 years now! We are so grateful for the time he spends at our events, merchandise tables, making Post Office runs and how helpful he is with assisting other volunteers.

As a fellow Army veteran, Todd has been a huge advocate for America's Mighty Warriors. He offers conversation and comradery at our events and is able to connect with others who have served.

Todd is married, enjoys hiking for artifacts, and spending time with his Macaw and fur babies. Thank you Todd for your faithful service to AMW and our military families! We love and appreciate you!



Sponsor of the Month

Echelon Front

You have often heard me say that Marc's final gift to me was his teammates. I knew from the beginning this was a precious gift but through the years I recognize it is a priceless gift. Not only are these men "My boys" they are "My Partners" in our mission at AMW. Jocko and Leif authored their first book Extreme Ownership teaching their leadership principles from combat. They dedicate their books, which we sell in our store, to their fallen brothers and honor them in all that they do. Echelon Front is the best leadership training I have ever experienced. Whether it is their books, on-line training, or Muster events there is something so unique about how they deliver these principles. Their AMAZING team and instructors continue to promote AMW and have donated or helped us raise over $500,000.00 dollars. Their principles have helped us grow AMW to be able to help even more of our Veterans and Gold Star families, providing healing and hope. Blessed to be part of this family of leaders! THANK YOU JOCKO, LEIF AND THE EF TEAM FOR YOUR FAITHFUL LOVE AND SUPPORT!

#MakeYourMarc is our new campaign that we kicked off last month. We are hoping to inspire and motivate you on Mondays. You will find an encouraging message to do one of the things Marc mentioned in his last letter home and to "pass on the kindness, the love, the precious gift of human life." We would love for you to post that with #MakeYourMarc on your social media, including our AMW social media. Please also post if you have been impacted by Marc or AMW. We want the world to see the difference that one life can and is still making.

KAUI'S KORNER

One of the most important things for our mental and physical health is sleep. When I met world renowned researcher on HBOT Dr Efrati from Israel, his first question was "How are you sleeping? Dr Andrew Huberman also has important research on sleep. Below are things that I have implemented and Friday night I had a sleep score of 99 so it is working.



• Consistent Sleep Schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends, to regulate your body's internal clock. Shooting for a solid 8 hours. Sometimes you'll get more sleep, sometimes you'll get less but you want to trend toward more quality sleep.
• Create a Relaxing Bedtime Routine: Establish calming activities before bedtime, such as reading, Prayer, meditation, or gentle stretching, to signal to your body that it's time to wind down.
• Limit Screen Time Before Bed: Avoid using electronic devices with bright screens (phones, computers, TVs) at least an hour before sleep. The blue light emitted from screens can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle. 
• Avoid Stimulants and Heavy Meals Before Bed: Refrain from consuming caffeine, nicotine, or large meals close to bedtime, as they can interfere with falling asleep. For me, I stop caffeine 12 hours before bed time and meals 3-4 hours before bed time. 
• Stay hydrated but not too much that you wake often during sleep to urinate. One thing I do right before bed to mitigate this is take a teaspoon of salt before bed. 
• Control Light Exposure: Ensure your bedroom is dark and free from disruptive lights during sleep. Consider blackout curtains or an eye mask if needed.
• Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment: Keep your bedroom cool, quiet, and comfortable to promote better sleep quality. If you can keep your room very cool, 68 degrees F or lower or even use a mattress cooling system, this is also ideal and I found this to help me a lot with achieving quality deep sleep.
• Limit Daytime Naps: If you need to nap during the day, keep it short (around 20-30 minutes) and avoid napping too close to bedtime.
• Regular Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity, as it can improve sleep quality and overall brain health.
• Sunlight Exposure: Get natural sunlight exposure during the day, especially first thing in the morning, to regulate your body's circadian rhythm.
• Manage Stress: Practice stress-reducing techniques, such as mindfulness, stretching, or deep breathing exercises, to lower stress levels, which can positively impact sleep.
• Avoid Alcohol and Sedatives: While alcohol may initially make you drowsy, it can disrupt sleep patterns and should be avoided close to bedtime and in totality in regards to optimal brain health. Same goes with sleep sedatives. These may get you the quantity of sleep you want but not the quality of sleep you need. A good non-habit forming and natural "sleep cocktail" that Dr. Andrew Huberman recommends and I can vouch for helping me fall to sleep, that consistently gives me deep quality sleep and I wake up feeling recovered and not groggy is: 
• Magnesium Threonate (300–400 mg) 
• Apigenin (50 mg) daily
• Theanine (100–400 mg) daily
• Keep a Sleep-Friendly Bedroom: Reserve your bedroom for sleep and intimacy, avoiding activities like work or watching TV in bed.

I challenge you to implement as many of these factors to your sleep hygiene routine for the next 30 days and see if you are able to achieve a higher quality of sleep.

I am confident you will feel better, recover better, feel sharper, more focused and achieve better long term brain health and health over all that you deserve."

Get Your

Marc Merch!

America's Mighty Warriors was founded in response to Marc's selfless actions on August 2, 2006. Get your "Marc Merch" and help spread the word about his sacrifice and what we are doing to help all of our Mighty Warriors and Gold Star Families!

Purchase $100 of Merch and receive a Marc Lee Memorial bracelet, ML patch and ML decal, value $30 for free.

Take advantage of our Sale Items!

Live Your Life Worthy t-shirt 2XL and 3XL only, $10.00, Polo's $30.00 all sizes, ML Memorial t-shirt long sleeve, $10.00, S (tan), 2XL and 3XL (red) while supplies last. SHOP NOW!

ARE YOU SUPPORTING AMW BY:

• When flying on American Airlines adding 882565 under Business rewards, you still get your Frequent Flier miles AND they also donate to AMW
• Joining our $23 in 2023 campaign
• Check with your employer to see if they match your donations
• Volunteering your skills or talents
• Following and sharing our social media posts
• Following us on YouTube
• Promoting us to your family and friends
• Shopping in our store
• Hosting a fundraising event
• Jocko fuel or Origin use code AMW10 and receive 10% off and 10% is donated back to AMW originmaine.com