Three Wise Men Veterans Day Tribute

Three Wise Men Veterans Day Tribute
Written by Invictus Member Nathan Fletcher

“Not just a poem, not just a gym—it is a way of life.”

I started CrossFit several years ago when I was working Monday through Thursday in Sacramento. I thought it would be a nice and occasional compliment to my other athletic interests—but like so many others, I got hooked. I needed to find a place in San Diego for the weekends.

I will admit I knew very little about San Diego-based affiliates but I knew a lot about the poet William Ernest Henley and his poem Invictus. So I dropped in at Invictus. I found an amazing community and not only a fitness home but also a place I have developed so many great friends.

Last year, this amazing community came together to help me launch the Three Wise Men Tribute –not only a workout, but a cause—raising awareness of the problems our veterans face and most importantly raising funds to provide transition services.

We have made some exciting changes to our Three Wise Men Tribute and we hope that you all can join us this year! We will start once again on the flight deck of the USS Midway with some of the top elite athletes performing the Three Wise Men Tribute including our own Lauren Fisher, Maddy Myers, Rasmus Wisbech Anderson, Brian Miller along with Garret Fisher, Kenny Leverich, Scott and Saxon Panchik, Daniel Tyminski, Nick Uranker, Jared Stevens, Becca Voight, Val Voboril, Amanda Schwartz, Nate Schrader, Shawn Ramirez, Tommy Peace, Kyle Kasperbauer, Kristine Andali and many more.

We will cheer on these athletes as they perform the Three Wise Men Tribute on the flight deck of the USS Midway aircraft carrier (under the lights this year). Then in a special treat, our final “heroes” heat will feature veterans and active duty members of each branch of the military along with local San Diego first responders. The whole community will support them as we are reminded of the purpose of this event—supporting those who served. After the tribute workout, we will enjoy a live concert by Jumping Jack Flash, complimentary food from Slaters 50/50, local craft beer, vendor booths and much more. The event starts at 6:00 p.m. and you’re not gonna want to miss this! I hope you will sign up and join us! Please bring some friends with you!

You can get tickets at www.threewisementribute.org.

But that is only half of what we have in store. On Veterans Day, Wednesday November 11th, affiliates in all 50 states will be hosting the Three Wise Men Tribute as the workout of the day. On the same site (www.threewisementribute.org) you can register do the tribute workout at your favorite affiliate! Invictus will be hosting it at both locations. The affiliate that signs up the most people to do the workout will win the inaugural Three Wise Men Cup. There is a live leaderboard on our website.

It is only $35 to sign up for a ticket to the Midway AND the Three Wise Men Veterans Day Tribute. Your contribution helps us raise funds to support veterans transition programs. We will be doing a special check presentation to a great program on the deck of the Midway after the workout!

The Three Wise Men represent the very story of American service. They were my cousins and closest friends growing up; Jeremy, Ben, and Beau Wise. After a childhood together, we all joined the military (the three of them and me along with my younger brother). Jeremy was a Navy SEAL, Ben was an Army Green Beret, and Beau remains in the Marine Corps as an infantryman. Tragically, Jeremy was killed in a suicide bombing attack in Afghanistan in 2009. Two years and eleven days later, Ben was killed in a firefight, also in Afghanistan. We do the tribute to remember Jeremy and Ben, those heroes who gave that last measure of devotion. But, we also do the tribute to fight for the Beau Wises of the world, those veterans who survived more than a decade of war, losing their brothers and sisters (whether in blood or in arms), and are now trying to survive the peace.

As a veteran, I know that many of us have struggled. I have been through my own struggles in life—losing some big contests, dealing with the survivor’s guilt of losing friends in combat, and confronting all that life can throw at you. I actually wrote a column about Invictus the poem, my cousins, and the desire to start the Three Wise Men Foundation. Warning—I start the column with an F-bomb and it goes downhill from there.

But I have found great comfort in the effort to fight to help our retuning veterans. I hope you will join us again this year! It was humbling to see everyone come together last year. Now it is time to do it again—but bigger!

Semper Fi,

Nathan
Founder/Chairman
Three Wise Men Foundation