THE HERO WITH 7 THOUSAND FACES
April 26th, 2014 was a Saturday & December 13th, 2014 will be a Saturday. It started in DuPont, WA and will end in Baltimore, MD. He will be walking.
232 days. 34 Saturdays. 14 states. 7,100 kilometers. 7,000+ Heroes.
His walk will end at a place that has become synonymous with words like brotherhood, courage, selfless-service and sacrifice. It will end on a field. A football field. A field he played his last game on as a member of Army Football. A field of ‘friendly strife’. A place that promised to…
…sow(n) the seeds
That, upon other fields, on other days
Will bear the fruits of victory.
Since the beginning of Mike’s journey, nearly an entire Major League Baseball season and post-season was completed. The NFL Draft, Pre-Season Camp and 14 weeks of football games have been played, yet Mike walks. A selection committee replaced computers and polls and the NHL & NBA crowned their 2013–2014 champions and began their 2014–2015 season, yet Mike walks.
Mothers Day, Memorial Day, Fathers Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween, Veterans Day were celebrated, yet Mike walks. You’ve stayed out late, you’ve woken up early, you’ve slept-in and forgotten your keys, yet Mike walks. You ate too much on Thanksgiving and spent too much money on Black Friday, yet…you guessed it, Mike walks.
Like it or not, republicans made their way back into the house, books and albums have been released, galas, events and gatherings have all happened. You took on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, you maybe even twerked or participated in #GIVINGTUESDAY and good deeds have been done by good people; but there have also been death-inducing riots, protests and civil unrest and yet there’s Mike…walking through it all.
We were able to explore space on the silver screen with Guardians of the Galaxy & Interstellar and just sent the Orion out into the universe. Yet Mike has been a lone constant exploring this planet and this country & it’s streets, highways and towns — seeking out those families.
Over 7,100 kilometers, one kilometer for each and every service member who was killed in action during the GWOT. You most likely know one, or two or several of these heroes and their families.
And, as of today, Friday December 5th, 2014, Mike has just 8 days remaining. Just 8 days left…of walking. ONLY. 8. STRAIGHT. DAYS. After 224 previous straight days of walking. When was the last time you walked for 8 straight days, hell even 2 straight days or 1 whole day. 8 days remaining. That would be some sacrifice, to put everything on hold for 8 days. I’m serious, that wouldn’t be easy. Mike has walked a marathon-a-day for over 220 straight days.
On December 13th, 2014 Mike & his brothers will conclude the hike at the 115th Army-Navy game in Baltimore, MD. The 2nd to last kilometer of Mike’s 7,100 km journey is dedicated to 2LT James Patrick (JP) Blecksmith a former Navy Midshipman football player and the final kilometer will be in honor of 1LT Stephen “Chase” Prasnicki, a former Army football player and Mike’s teammate. Two of just thousands who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terror.
Mike would say, his sacrifice pales in compari…no…wait…he would remind you that his sacrifice isn’t even comparable to the sacrifice made by those heroes & their families. He understands that it isn’t about him.
He wont call himself a hero, so I will do it for him. Mike Viti is a hero. I am proud to call him a friend and a brother of Army Football. And I hope to share a ice-cold beverage with him next weekend in honor of his accomplishments and an Army Football Victory over Navy.
GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!
I, Chris Pestel, am an independant freelance photographer and storyteller. I am available to tell your story and am seeking new collaborations & projects. If you are so inclined, please take a moment to check out my other essays on www.medium.com/@chrisWpestel including the series below:
A 5-part series of photo essays that explores a 5 year span of Montini Catholic High School Football. Below are links to the entire series:
Part I — RIVALS
Part II — WOODSTOCK
Part III — ORANGE SKY
Part IV — PROGRAMMED TO WIN
Part V — NOVEMBER REIGN
website: www.chrisWpestel.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chrisWpestel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chrisWpestel
Please send me an email if you have any questions. As we turn the calendar from 2014 to 2015, I wish you a joyous holiday season! GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!
