Today we were invited to the DEA Zone Office to be part of the DEA Maltz Challenge. Let me quote their bio on it, they can explain it better than I so I’ll just quote them.

To Honor the military and those who paid the ultimate sacrafice defending our country. DEA will host the 7th annual Maltz Challenge on March 22, 2013. The Maltz Challenge is the result of the vision of a handful of DEA special agents who wanted to honor the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom.

The Maltz Challenge is named after Air Force Master Sergeant Michael Maltz. Master Sergeant Maltz was a pararescue jumper who was killed in action, along with five colleagues, during a medical evacuation of sick Afghani children in March 2003. Since 2007, DEA has paid tribute to fallen heroes from all branches of the military through the Maltz Challenge. Some have direct ties to DEA, such as 2010 honorees DEA Special Agents Chad Michael, Forrest Leamon, and Michael Weston, who were killed in Afghanistan while participating in a military operation. Most others do not; we simply want to pay tribute to them and their families.

The Maltz Challenge is a timed fitness circuit consisting of eight events:
-400 meter run
-50 pull-ups
-100 meter fireman’s carry or 200 meter farmer’s walk (50lb. dumbell for men; 25lb. dumbell for women)
-50 dips
-100 push-ups
-50 knees-to-elbows
-100 sit-ups
-400 meter run
The events are to be completed in the specified order. Participants are encouraged to push themselves to complete the challenge in the shortest time possible. The event is open to anyone who is up to the challenge and willing to test his or her limits in tribute to our fallen heroes. Participants who wish to compete for time will be grouped together and timed from the start of the first 400 meter run through the end of the second 400 meter run. Modifications can be made for competitors with limited physical capability.
http://www.deamaltzchallenge.com

I sat in front of the DEA building standing guard during the challenge. After I took my place at the front door Julie, Dave & Gramps went inside to meet the others where the Fallen Hero’s Dream Ride team was introduced and Julie gave a little talk about Phillip and me. Jim presented Julie and Dave with a plaque and a nice goodie bag with a hat, cup and challenge coin. Another one for Julie’s collection.

Then ever one filled outside to see me and Julie was kind enough to tell the all my story and what each of the scenes on me represent. It’s now about 10 am and about time for the challenge to start so all headed into the building and headed up to the gym

The group divided into 4 man teams, there was one team that had 3 men and a woman. The challenge took about an hour to complete.

Another great day.

We were suppose to go to BIG SAINT CHARLES MOTORSPORTS CANNONBALL RUN! tomorrow but it has been cancelled because of inclement weather in the area tomorrow. So it’s back to the trailer park for me.