Life

When I crossed the finish line at IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga carrying an American flag, the race stopped being about me. For 13.1 miles, through every aid station, every hill, every moment my body wanted to slow down, there was a name attached to that flag: Staff Sergeant Seth Michael Plant. This story isn’t about my finish time. It’s about him. Who Seth Plant Was Seth Michael Plant was born on November 16, 1991, in Jacksonville, Florida. He grew up in Starke, Florida before moving to St. Augustine, where he lived the remainder of his life, when he wasn’t deployed, when he wasn’t serving, when the Army gave him back to the people who loved him. He graduated from Pedro Menendez High School in 2010. Serving his country was a lifelong dream, and he didn’t wait. He enlisted in the United States Army immediately after graduation and pursued that dream with everything he had. His service took him to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served alongside the United States Navy SEALs. By the time he died, he had recently been promoted to Staff Sergeant, serving in Company C, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Arctic Airborne unit. He was a decorated soldier. Army Commendation Medal. Army Achievement Medal. Army Good Conduct Medal. National Defense Service Medal. Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon. Army Service Ribbon. Overseas Service Ribbon. NATO Service Ribbon. Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Parachutist Badge. Arctic Tab. Each one of those represents something he earned — somewhere he went, something he endured, something he did in service to this country that most people will never be asked to do. He was also just a person. Outside of the uniform, Seth worked in the service industry in St. Augustine for years — serving locals and tourists, making friends everywhere he went. He liked working on cars. He welded. He dabbled in construction. He didn’t sit still for long. Everyone who knew him says the same thing: he never met a stranger. He was the son of Michael and Joy Plant. A soldier. A leader. A friend. Gone far too soon at the age of 30, on May 10, 2022, while stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. If you’d like to learn more about Seth’s life and the legacy his family continues to build in his honor, visit the Say When and Remember Him Facebook page: 👉 Say When and Remember Him Why I Chose Seth The IRONMAN Foundation Gold Star Initiative connects athletes with Gold Star families — families who have lost a loved one in military service. Athletes carry the name of a fallen service member throughout their race, honoring their memory while helping share their story. You can learn more about the IRONMAN Foundation Gold Star Initiative here: 👉 Ironman Foundation I wasn’t assigned Seth through the program. I chose him. My wife and close friends knew Seth long before I ever knew his story. They carried his memory before I knew his name. When I started thinking about who I wanted to honor during my first IRONMAN 70.3, there really wasn’t another choice. It was always going to be Seth. Say When and Remember Him After Seth’s passing, his family chose to build something meaningful from their loss. They created the Say When and Remember Him Foundation — a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit in the State of Florida — to honor the way Seth lived: hardworking, service-oriented, and always willing to show up for someone else. The foundation awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are pursuing the paths Seth valued most: military service, trade schools, and first responder training. Scholarships are available to seniors graduating from: Last year’s scholarships reached students entering culinary programs, esthetics, lineman training, electrical, plumbing, the U.S. Army, and first responder academies. This year, the foundation is working to get $35,000 into the hands of deserving seniors ready to build a life through service and skilled work. If you know a graduating senior from one of those schools, or if exceptions apply, reach out directly: 📧 saywhenandrememberhim@gmail.com Seth never met a stranger. He worked with his hands. He served his country. He believed in showing up. His family found a way to keep those values moving forward. [PHOTO #4 – FOUNDATION LOGO, FUNDRAISER, SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION, OR FOUNDATION EVENT] To follow the foundation’s work, scholarship announcements, and community events, visit: 👉 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092266125091 Carrying His Name Through 13.1 Miles The flag came out at the beginning of the run. And it never went away. Attached to it was a memorial ribbon that read: “SSG Seth Michael Plant — Say When & Remember Him.” For 13.1 miles, his name led the way. Every aid station. Every mile marker. Every moment I wanted to stop. 13.1 miles on tired legs, after 1.4 miles of swimming and 56 miles of biking. Late in a race. Deep in the part where everything hurts and your brain starts looking for reasons to slow down. Seth Plant served in Afghanistan with Navy SEALs. He earned the Arctic Tab and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He went to places most people will never go and did things most people will never be asked to do. And he was 30 when it ended. Every mile of that run when I wanted to walk longer, I thought about Seth. He didn’t get a choice about his hard day. I did. So I kept moving. One aid station at a time. One mile at a time. One step at a time. The flag stayed up for every one of those 13.1 miles. From the moment I picked it up until the moment I crossed the finish line in 8:44:02. That finish-line moment, flag raised, family waiting, completely exhausted — was for him. A Note to Fellow Veterans I served in the United States Air Force. I didn’t serve where Seth served. I didn’t deploy where he deployed. I didn’t earn the decorations he