Members of the South Florida community laced up their shoes Saturday to commemorate a U.S. Navy SEAL who paid the ultimate price.
The first Annual Ryan Owens Memorial Run was a grueling four-mile beach run, celebrating and honoring the 36-year-old decorated U.S. service member.
"I just want to honor his memory and his commitment to the country and sacrifice," said John Owens, Ryan's brother.
Senior Chief William "Ryan" Owens was killed this January during a raid on al Qaeda militants in the Arabian Peninsula's branch in Yemen -- the first military operation approved by President Donald Trump.
"Rather have Ryan here then this event to go to, but in lieu of him not being able to be here it's a great honor for him," said Ryan's father, Bill Owens.
Ryan's brother, John, is also a navy seal and founder of the Naked Warrior Project -- which this weekends run was in support of.
"I'd like to keep doing it to help support our mission to raise money to help build a memorial of my brother here in South Florida," he said.
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Many law enforcement agencies also showed up to support the mission.
"That's why we started the Naked Warrior Project for to honor the fallen special operations personnel that have given all for the country," John said.
Ryan grew up in South Florida and then moved to Chillicothe, Illinois, to attend high school. Ryan enlisted in the Navy before high school graduation. His father and brothers still live in South Florida today and all speak of him wanting to return when he retired from the Navy.
