Oct. 6 marked the 20th anniversary of Lance Cpl. Jason L. “JC” Frye’s death in Iraq. Master Sgt. Tim Brig laced his boots before dawn in Carlisle and set out on foot for the hillside cemetery at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church near Bridgeport, where Frye is buried. He carried a heavy ruck and a simple aim to keep faith with a fellow Marine.
Brig’s route traced more than 20 miles from the former recruiting office area in Carlisle where both men had signed up, finishing at the church where Frye was baptized, confirmed and laid to rest. The Marine reservist trained for months and shouldered a weighted pack for the entire walk. “Semper Fidelis means always faithful. When we say it, it matters,” Brig said after reaching the cemetery.
The march doubled as a fundraiser, “Rucking for Frye.” Brig set a goal of $6,120 — a dollar for every mile from Landisburg to approximately where Frye was killed near Fallujah. His effort met that mark, and contributions continued to come in from word-of-mouth and small encounters along the way.
Connie and Gary Frye waited near their son’s grave as the miles ticked down. Connie remembered the call from Brig weeks earlier, and his resolve. “Right off the bat, I thought, he’s crazy. But from the tone of his voice, that dedication — nothing was going to stop him.”…