Vest Up 4 the Fallen

What is Vest Up 4 the Fallen #SIXFIVE- Boston 2 Bourne Vest Up 4 The Fallen is an event where Active Duty Military, Veterans, First Responders and Civilians come together to walk 65 miles, over 24 hours, without sleep, starting at 5:00am, on Sunday, Memorial Day weekend at the 54th Regiment Memorial near the Boston Common (Directly across from the State House) and concludes on Monday, Memorial Day at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne MA.  It's a time to honor, remember, respect, reflect and pay tribute to all the US Armed Forces members who paid the Ultimate Sacrifice in service to our country. 
Participants start at Boston Common on Sunday, Memorial Day Weekend and concludes on Monday, Memorial Day at the Massachusetts National Cemetery on Cape Cod.  Vest Up 4 the Fallen is Not a Race, It's an event built to build bonds, embrace the suck together, help one another push forward and Honor those who can no longer feel the ground beneath their feet. It's a time to reflect on oneself and push beyond your limits.​ 
Why don't we Run? Because running gets you there faster and due to going faster you're not taking in the full physical and mental hardship one endure when you have to walk. This event is made to make you get out of your comfort zone. Walking takes longer and with each step you feel the weight you're carrying and the mental strength it takes to get to the finish; but that weight and mental strength it takes is nothing compared to the heavy weight, strength, mental grief and heartache Families of the Fallen carry every single day. 
Our motto “ Do You Have What it Takes” and “What’s Your Why” have become a driving force for many people to register and take part in this 65 mile march because each person's “WHY” is different from the next. Vest Up 4 the Fallen is a time where each person has dug deep to answer that question within themselves “ Do You Have What it Takes” to push themselves one step after another towards the 65 mile destination. Participants raise money for Give2Those.org, a 501c3 non-profit organization. Note: You are responsible for a Ride to drop you off at the Start and Pick you up at the Finish.  Start Location: Boston Common; Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial, Boston, MA  Registration Gathering Date & Time: 3:30am Sunday, May 25, 2025 Ceremony Starts at 4:30a.m Step Off Time: 5:00am  Ending Date: Memorial Day Monday May 26, 2025 Ending ETA: 8:00-9:30am (ETA means estimated time of arrival) Ending Location: Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave, Buzzards Bay, MA 02542 
 
The team is to complete the mission and get to the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave, Buzzards Bay, MA 02542- around  on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025 ****There will be ten stopping locations along the route where the team will be able to access their gear. The Main Check in Vehicle will get there before the first team member and doesn't leave until the last team member passes by.    What's the significants of wearing the Vest? A Vest is a necessity in the military, as it provides increase levels of protection for service members, saves lives, and helps fellow service members secure and rescue a wounded or mortally wound service member; dragging them by their vest to safety in an emergency.  By wearing a weighted vest you are constantly reminded of the all around weight and discomfort it may bring, but that it is nothing compared to the deep weight of sorrow and grief their loved ones carry in their heart everyday single day. The weight and discomfort you feel Memorial Day weekend is just that, a Weekend but your WHY is greater than yourself, it's a time where you dig deep to honor, remember, reflect,respect and pay tribute to the sacrifices made in service to our Country and letting their loved ones know that that sacrifice is not forgotten nor are they, for we understand that their sorrow and grief is not just a weekend, and it does not have a cure; for its forever!   How much should your Vest Weight: Ultimately you decide but we suggest you DO NOT CARRY HEAVY!  Can I Wear a Ruck?  We encourage those who want to participate to wear a vest because of what it represents but we will not condemn anyone if they wear a ruck.  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Registration Levels/Costs Note: If you register after After May 1st you may not be Guaranteed a shirt.  
 
Registration is $65.00 that equals to one dollar per mile. What if I choose to Fundraise and Opt-out of paying the $65.00? ***** If you choose to fundraise $150.00 you will receive $65.00 off the initial registration fee but you will be required to meet the minimum fundraising goal of $150.00. In order for the fee to be waived, You will be prompted on the fourth page to become a fundraiser. Click become fundraiser and on the right hand side check off the $150.00 box this will automatically allow you to be come a fundraiser and the fee will be waived. Take note due to cost associated with this event if you choose to opt out of paying the $65.00 registration fee, and you do not reach the $150 fundraiser goal, YOU are in understanding and agreement to pay the full $150 or the difference in which you did not raise.  ********* Please note this is required not only due to cost associated with the event as noted above but to also keep people from being able to choose this option and then not show up etc.  This is a fundraiser event to help Give2Those Mission in helping and supporting our Nations Heroes and their Families; So Please before choosing this option take full note!! The deadline to fundraise is May 27, 2024 at 11:59pm EDT Additional fundraiser Goal Swag:   Those who raise $250.00 will receive a hat with moral patch. Those who raise $500.00 will receive Hat & sweatshirt those who raise $1,500 will receive Hat, Sweatshirt & Woobie. You have until May 12th to be guaranteed items. After that we may have to ship to address provided. 

 

Top Fundraisers: Individual & Team Award: 4ft Soldier Statue Top Team Fundraiser & Top Individual Fundraiser For the Top Individual you must raise $2,500 or more for the Top Team $5,000   Vest Up 4 the Fallen Team Relay  Each Team can have up to four people per team. MAX can be no more than Four people  You must provide your own support vehicle. Each team member has to do miles which can be split along course.  ALL Teams MUST be at the ceremony in Bourne regardless of what time you finish. Due top logistics You Can Not Run  Teams have to check in at check in with the Coordinator 

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Do What You Can Miles  this is for people who want to get out and walk and support the team/event but do not feel that they can attempt the Full 65 mile march. The "Do What You can Miles" allows you to choose how many miles you can do. 
Registration is $55.00 After May 1st Shirt Size will Not be Guaranteed
  Please Note: for "Do What You can Miles" YOU WILL NEED a Support Vehicle (family, friend etc) to follow along with you or be close by in case you need to Tap Out. Only know your body and how many miles you can do at any given time.

 

be.    Track Your Progress
You can track all your miles directly into our mobile apps (iOS and Android). This will be your way to receive an official Finisher Patch. Only those who finish the FULL 65 miles receive this one and only Finisher Patch Not revealed before hand. Please post your miles & time on the Facebook Vest Up 4 the Fallen #sixfive Group or email us at info@give2those.org If for a reason a predicted storm is heading your way/area and or you have started the event and one is heading your way Do NOT ATTEMPT to do continue to do this virtual event, contact us and you can do it at a later time. Safety is Always #1

 

Each Registered Participant will Receive: 
Official Vest Up 4 The Fallen Tee-Shirt 
Fueling Snacks and waters will be provided- 
(Hydration is provided but we suggest you have hydration on you before you arrive and at step off.)
Alumni Sports Cafe will be providing pizza to the team 25.2 Miles into the event. 
Only those who complete the FULL 65 MILES will be patched with a 6" patch and a 3" patch at Massachusetts National Cemetery. Those who do the Do What you Can, Virtual or the Team Relay will only receive the 3" finisher patch_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ More About the Event: The team will be marching down RT53 and 3A South, traversing through the following city and towns Boston, Quincy, Weymouth, Hingham, Norwell, Hanover, Pembroke, Duxbury, Kingston, Plymouth, Bourne, Buzzards Bay, until they reach their destination at the Massachusetts National Cemetery on Memorial Day Monday, May 27,2024 We will have support vehicles along the route  We will have a tracker link for the team as a whole but we suggest you add a tracker to your own phone as well. The Tracker system we use is Glympse - Share GPS location Glympse is a fast, free and simple way to share your real-time location using GPS tracking, with any of your family or friends. https://glympse.com/get-glympse-app/ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hotels at Bourne and Later Evening on Memorial Day We will be coordinating with Hotels on Bourne to get rates for those doing the event. This will be updated and an email will go our to all registered participants. We are also looking into having a Memorial Day Night gathering Dinner in Bourne. This will be an extra fee but it will be a time for the Team to come together on Memorial Day later in the evening to talk and reflect.  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Safety is our number one priority!!!!!  There will be a safety briefing at the start of the event.  1. We ask that you carry your ID  2. There are many potential hazards in an open road race of this type including, but not limited to: automobile traffic, creatures in the road and/or on pathways, walkways, roads etc and weather. 3. We ask that all participants please take appropriate precautions to ensure a safe event. Please help us keep this event safe by focusing on being safe and using caution at all times. Route is not free of traffic so it will be important for all participants  to use good judgment and Be Alert on Blind Curves and lack of sidewalks. 4. Listening to music with both headphones in can be dangerous. You need to be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. We encourage you to listen to music using just use one earpiece. 5.  Pre-hydrate before you start and continue to hydrate during the event. Electrolyte replacement is just as important as hydration. Gatorade, Power Aid drinks. Hydration powders can help with that. If its hot out, keeping your core body temperature as low as possible is also a vital component when being active in the heat. If you are feeling over heated or are getting hot you can pour cold water on your head and neck and to slow your pace are two great ways to help keep your body’s temperature under control. *****  If you stop to use the bathroom YOU CAN NOT be driven to catch up you must do what it takes to catch up to the team even if it means running. Why?? Because getting into a car only cheats yourself but most of all those you are doing it in honor of....... Our Fallen Heroes, Period! Lastly- Respect private property along the route. Don't relieve yourself in the neighbors bushes. Respect the outdoors: Do Not Litter! __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 What Gear to Pack- If in Yellow it is a MUST Pack! 1. We ask that you carry your ID on you 2. Reflective Gear, Flash Light and blinking light for the back of vest   3. MUST have at least a Head Lamp 4. Battery Pack and Phone Cord for your phone  5. Warm Jacket, Gloves, and Hat (It gets cold on the Cape) 6.  At least 1 Emergency Blanket  7. Hand warmers help when you get to the Cape 8. Few Pairs min. Change of Socks (Trust us You'll be changing them at least once)  9. Body Powder  10. Band-Aid Brand Hydro Seal All Purpose Adhesive 11. If the weather is to have rain bring an extra set of clothing. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What happens if you have to quit/tap out? Do not leave without telling one of the Volunteers or Director of the event. If you TAP OUT YOU are responsible for a Ride to pick you up at your drop out location.  If you do decide to TAP OUT Please let a Volunteer or Event Director know as we have a body count system.  Remember your apart of this team beyond Tap Out, We do ask you to meet us at Massachusetts National Cemetery for the closing ceremony.  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  How did -Vest Up 4 The Fallen, Boston 2 Bourne first start?  In 2020 as Covid-19 made life come to a halt in so many ways to include canceling Memorial Day Ceremonies across the Nation, President and Founder of Give2Those.org had seen many Gold Star Families, Veterans, Active Duty Members and Patriots  posting on social media about events all across America being canceled; she thought to herself Memorial Day should never be canceled. That's when she made it her goal to honor the fallen and came up with a plan, to Trek 65 miles from Boston Common to Massachusetts National Cemetery wearing a Vest in Honor and Remember the sacrifices made in service to our Nation. That being said close friends from Gold Star Families, Active Duty Members, First Responders and Patriots joined forces with her to walk along side and complete the mission with her. After the event people reached out and asked her if she would continue to put together this event and well now here we are 2021 and this May the journey will begin once again. This event will take All That You've Got, It will take heart and Soul for your mind and body will have wanted to quit long before you get to the Cemetery. The question is DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!!!!   The team will be raising funds for Give2Those.org a 501c3 non-profit organization The mission of Give2Those is to step in and provide vital financial assistance and support when hardship, distress, and/or tragedy strikes an active duty member, veteran, first responder, or their family. In addition to providing financial assistance, Give2Those also focuses ​on ​engaging communities​ and citizen participation in taking time to honor, remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who serve; and to empower, encourage, support, and reconnect service members, veterans, first responders and their families with themselves, each other, and their community.