As promised, here are the bios for three of our incredible Gold Star Race Program (GSRP) athletes who are preparing to cross the finish line at the San Francisco Marathon in July.
Ashley Southard of Enterprise, AL
Wife of Army SGT Andy Southard
First Marathon
Meet Ashley
“My husband’s legacy is saturated in love, the same way his life was.” Ashley is the wife of SGT Andrew Southard who was killed during the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash over the Mediterranean Sea on November 10, 2023. Ashley describes Andy as a kind man who inspired others simply through his presence. His friends shared with Ashley that being around Andy made them want to be a better father, husband, and Soldier. Ashley is a mother and an author; she enjoys reading and wants to make her husband proud as she trains and accomplishes her first marathon. She will call on her husband’s love that he left behind to continue to grow and persevere in his memory.
Meet Dee
“Our world changed when we lost him and our lives will never be the same.” Dee is the daughter of SP4 Dennis Hauschel who passed away on 15 July 2004 from conditions related to his injuries during the Vietnam War. Dee shares that her father lived with many health conditions from his injuries but regardless of his own challenges, he was the kindest and most loving person she knew. Through her father’s example, Dee has pursued a career helping other military children reach their educational goals through her work at Children of Fallen Patriots. Throughout this experience, Dee is looking forward to honoring her dad’s legacy and memory while pushing her limits, connecting with others, and healing through running.
Dee Hauschel of San Antonio, TX
Daughter of Army SP4 Dennis Hauschel
First Marathon
Emily Lemoine of Dover, NH
Sister of Army SSG Tanner Grone
First Marathon
Meet Emily
“My brother did not quit and no matter how hard it is, I will not either.” Emily is the sister of SSG Tanner Grone who was killed during the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash over the Mediterranean Sea on 10 November 2023. Tanner and Emily were each other’s number one supporters and spent their childhood summers building forts and creating a special sibling bond that continued into adulthood. Although Emily was older, she still looked up to her brother and leaned on him for support. After losing Tanner, Emily found herself questioning her identity as a sister and knew she needed to do something to keep his legacy alive. Emily is also a proud military wife and works to support the military community through her role at work. She is dedicated to challenging herself and pushing herself to do hard things with a grin on her face just as he did.
Counting Down the Days
With just 24 days to go until the San Francisco Marathon, Ashley, Dee, Emily, and the rest of the cohort are in the final stages of their training. Their stories of resilience and dedication are a powerful reminder of why we run—to honor, remember, and celebrate our loved ones.
Stay tuned for more updates and follow along as we introduce our next two athletes, Joseph Hoiden and Quinn Mooldyk.
Read Embracing the Journey: Gold Star Race Program