ARMY VETERAN AIYANNA COLEMAN TO SERVE AS GRAND MARSHAL AT THE ANNUAL LAGUNA HILLS MEMORIAL DAY HALF MARATHON, 5 AND 10K RACE, ON MONDAY, MAY 25.
Race organizer Renegade Racing created a series of Medals, each featuring one of the Military service branches, which then culminated in a 5 year “Chief of Staff” Legacy Medal for those runners who completed all 5 in the series. A new 5 year series was launched in 2019, and this year’s finish Medal will honor Women Veterans.
Accordingly, female Army Veteran Aiyanna Coleman has been invited and accepted to serve as the 2020 Grand Marshal. Aiyanna has an impressive service record of her own, as well as ties to the 3/5 Battalion. Her husband is USMC (Ret) Lance Corporal Jorge Ortiz, a combat camera veteran of 3/5. They met in June 2012 during her volunteer work as a Massage Therapist at Balboa’s Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care Unit. They married February 14th, 2015 and their son Leo was born January 9, 2017.
Aiyanna has attended the City race 4 times, and run the race twice.
We had a fascinating conversation with her about her experiences, and share some of her comments here.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO ENLIST IN THE ARMY? “At a young age I was already thinking about my career, financial, medical and retirement security. I knew by age 15/16 I was going to join the Army. My mom is a retired Navy Nurse (27 years.). I enlisted in the delayed entry program in 2003 and went to Boot Camp in April 2004 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.”
WHEN AND WERE DID YOU DEPLOY? “ I deployed to Iraq in June 2006-September 2007, to Mosul, Iraq and then Baghdad. While deployed I was on tower duty (perimeter security), and then dining facility security. While at Baghdad I was tasked out to be a female searcher. Dec 31st, 2006 I went on my first mission with 2ndBattalion,3rdInfantry Division. As a female searcher I was tasked to search foreign national females during our targeted raids or house to house searches.
“Working with the Infantry as a female was new territory for the guys as well as the females that went out on the missions with them. There were many female soldiers that had experienced combat: military police, truck drivers, supply and anyone on a convoy, but now females were going out with the infantry to perform searches.
“I received a 5 minute briefing on how to do a physical search on someone. That is all the training I received to go out on missions. My first mission was, I’m sure, awkward for the guys, they didn’t really talk to me or involve me in anyway. I stayed in our Stryker when they went out on foot; for 8 hours! I was not interested in staying in the vehicle like that all the time so I asked our squad leader before our next mission if I could get out with them. Very quickly the guys came to trust me, and I them. We became close, and they nicknamed me ‘Mom’, as I was always making sure they took care of themselves, drinking water, and resting.”
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REFLECT UPON OR KNOW ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY?
“People should understand that those in service chose this job, and that it comes with doing things the rest of the world may or may not like. Have respect for the person that chose to do the job.
“We come from all walks of life: religion, race, gender, financial and educational status, ages and political beliefs; but we all chose this job and are all trying to provide for ourselves and our families. Remember that the ones who chose this job, and respect that they chose a job that the mass majority would not; and they died because they were trying to protect who they stood next to, who also chose this job. “
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Memorial Day Monday May 25 we encourage everyone to come participate in the run, or EXPO following, and meet Aiyanna Coleman, a young lady you will not forget.
For more information or to register online visit lagunahillshalfmarathon.com. A portion ($3.00) of each race registration will be directed by the city to the 3rdBattalion,5thMarines,1stDivison Support Committe, the IRS 501 C 3 non-profit formed in 2010 following the CIty’s adoption of 3/5. DBA Team Darkhorse is composed of local volunteers who give of their time, treasure and talents to to build and sustain community support for the Marines and Sailors of 3/5. In 2014 one of our projects was to create tribute banners to each of the 25 Marines Killed in Action during a 2010/2011 deployment to Afghanistan. These tribute banners are displayed each year along the race route. Veterans, and current enlisted Marines frequently run the race in honor of their fallen brothers. Since 2013, the Support Committee has invited one of the combat veterans to serve as Grand Marshal. Army veteran Aiyanna Coleman was selected this year to represent Female veterans, as well as for her ties to 3rdBattalion,5thMarines, through her marriage to LCorporal Jorge Ortiz.