RoseMarie Boston participates in a WWP Carry Forward 5K.
RoseMarie Boston doesn’t need a special occasion to thank a veteran.
She’s the woman who stops service members in airports, shakes their hands, and tells them how much their sacrifice means. Her appreciation comes from a lifetime spent surrounded by military service — from family members who served decades ago to her grandson-in-law, Jimmie, who serves in the U.S. Army today. RoseMarie, too, served in the Navy.
So, when Jimmie invited her to participate in a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Carry Forward 5K in 2025, saying yes was easy. What began as a chance to support a loved one quickly became something more: an opportunity to honor generations of service while helping fellow veterans and their families through an event that turns gratitude into action.
“I am that little old lady in the airport who hugs everyone in uniform and thanks them for their service,” she tearfully explained. “They’re defiant in their fearlessness, and I am sure that they’re scared but still they go and do it.”
More than a Name
Summing up the essence of a team in a simple name is no easy task. In 2025, RoseMarie joined her grandson in-law Jimmie’s Carry Forward team, thoughtfully named “Memento Mori,” representing the idea of living life meaningfully. So, when RoseMarie decided to create her own team for the upcoming 2026 Carry Forward 5K in San Diego, she was determined to find a name that stood for something larger than life.
“Defiant Warriors” is the name she chose, representing her determination to support those who served.
Service Carried Through Generations
As a U.S. Navy veteran, RoseMarie knows firsthand the sacrifices that come with military service. Her husband, whom she describes as her “eternal companion," passed away in 2024 from complications related to Agent Orange during his time in the U.S. Navy. Her brother and brother-in-law also ultimately passed away after being exposed to deadly elements while serving.
Generations later, the family’s connection to service still runs strong. RoseMarie’s nephew and his wife are both veterans, and now her grandson-in-law, Jimmie, is in the Army. She recognizes the influence that younger generations can have in supporting warriors and their families and urges them to understand what military sacrifice truly means.
“They don’t realize that the freedoms they have today are because of these men and women who put their lives on the line for us,” RoseMarie explained.
It is not because of a lack of compassion, she said, but a lack of knowledge of the sacrifices our service members make.. “You tend to take things for granted when you don’t know,” she said.
One of the reasons RoseMarie got involved in Carry Forward was to help raise awareness and spark support among all generations. Carry Forward San Diego, a part of the Carry Forward 5K City Series, is close to where RoseMarie lives, making it even easier for her team to be involved. The four biggest events as part of WWP’s City Series are in San Diego, San Antonio, Nashville, and Jacksonville.
Support Driving the Future
Being involved in a Carry Forward gives participants a chance to support warriors and their families, while also raising funds for WWP’s life-changing programs that are provided to warriors at no cost. At 82 years old, RoseMarie is dedicated to working hard for those supporting her.
After suffering a fall two weeks before Carry Forward San Diego in 2025, she persevered, completing the course with a limp.
“I think I was one of the last people to go through the end, but I was bound and determined," she said.
She laughed reflecting on the experience and says she hopes to dodge any unforeseen circumstances before this year’s event. Regardless, she found the support and community around Carry Forward electrifying.
“It was a physically painful experience, but just doing it gave me the energy and the motivation to finish,” she said.
Finding a Sense of Community
According to WWP’s Warrior Survey, * 75% of warriors report feeling left out. Without strong support networks, loneliness can negatively impact quality of life. WWP® is dedicated to building life-changing connections and supportive communities. Carry Forward is just one example of how the passion of community can instill hope for warriors and their families.
RoseMarie reflected on her experience during the 2025 Carry Forward event in San Diego. “The spirit was just amazing. Everybody was just happy and loving and kind.” Community support is part of the reason RoseMarie, along with many others, are continuing to participate to support their loved ones, and other warriors who become lifelong connections throughout the process.
Looking and Carrying the Mission Forward
The impact of supporting Carry Forward does not stop after the event ends. The feeling gained from making a difference is unlike any other, RoseMarie said, and is a main reason why she and other participants come back year after year.
Whether it’s a generational connection like RoseMarie’s, or simple gratitude for the sacrifices of veterans past and present, each supporter helps make life-changing programs, services, and connections possible for warriors and their families.
“You weren’t just a number,” RoseMarie said. “They knew you were there and they appreciated you being there, and you felt that.”
*Warrior Survey, Wave 3 (conducted June 15 - Aug. 24, 2023)