VIRGINIA BEACH -- They say the military is a family of brothers and sisters, protecting each other, having each other's backs.
Three local families have found out just how much love can come from that tight-knit bond. Their loved ones died serving our country. All three were Navy SEALs and their families are showing their strength and love in beautiful ways -- creating charity events in their names to help others throughout Hampton Roads.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Valentine died in 2008 during a parachute training exercise; Mike McGreevy died in a helicopter crash while on a rescue mission in Afghanistan in 2005; Allen Stone died in a training accident in 1999.
Because of what they stood for and how they lived their lives, their families and friends created charity events to make sure they live on and continue to help the country and community they loved so much.
Thomas Valentine loved golf, so his wife and friends created the Tommy V Golf Challenge. The inaugural effort raised $30,000 for the Naval Special Warfare Command to help families of other fallen SEALs.
"The Navy SEAL community and the Hampton Roads community are the best," Christina says. "There are people, 22 months since I lost Tom, who still think about him like we think about Tom, still think about the guys we've lost like we think about them."
Mike McGreevy loved sports, good citizenship and working with children. His wife Laura established the Mike McGreevy Memorial Scholarship Fund. By participating in several races with Team Groove (Mike's nickname), to date, they've raised over $100,000 for military familes and college scholarships for students who are excelling in the classroom and the community.
"It's the best thing I've done since Mike died," Laura says. "It was two years ago after Mike died when I started it. I was worried is it too late to start that? Are people going to remember, care, or even want to do this? The outpouring was unbelievable."
Allen Stone loved athletics and pushing his body to the limit. His friends helped create the Allen Stone Braveheart 5-K Run and Walk. For years, it's benefitted Navy SEALS and the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad.
"I think they recognize it as a way to keep Allen's memory alive and do something worthwhile that he would really love doing," says Syble Stone, Allen's mother, as she breaks down in tears, "I'm so proud of him."
Since Allen's death in 1999, Mrs. Stone has gotten phone calls every single week from Navy SEALs just to see how she's doing. She also gets flowers sent by Allen's friends every year on September 3, the day he died.
For these three families, the love and support they continue to get propels them to carry on and help others in honor of our heroes they hold deep in their hearts.
"They were a big family together and they'll always be one and we'll be a big part of it. Everybody's a part of it," says Valentine's nine-year-old son, John, who hopes to grow up and be just like his dad.
