A Family Affair At The Tampa Bay Frogman Swim
The 2022 Tampa Bay Frogman Swim was not held this weekend as scheduled due to winds, but the show still went on to honor the fallen Navy SEAL warriors.
John Doolittle, who retired as a captain from the SEAL Teams, and his family (daughter Megan, sons Ryan and Sean, and wife Katie) participate in the swim each year. He explains why he has swum in the 13 annual events, “The Tampa Bay Frogman Swim strives to build national awareness of the Naval Special Warfare community and support the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF) whose mission is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.
I’m doing this 5 km swim across chilly Tampa Bay in January to raise money for the NSF. The Memorial Ceremony is held as the sun is rising and the Special Operations Jump Team jumps in with our nation’s flag at sunrise at Gandy Beach.
If you were to ever have a doubt as to the importance of this fundraiser, all those doubts will melt away as you hear the names of each teammate who we have lost since 9/11 being read as the color guard presents our nation’s flag and the sun starts coming up over Tampa.
One of the primary efforts of the Foundation is supporting the Gold Star Family program; helping to take care of surviving spouses and family members after our nation’s warriors pay the ultimate price. All donations go DIRECTLY to The Navy SEAL Foundation and will have an immediate impact on an Naval Special Warfare family member in need.”
The event has currently raised US$505,935 of its goal of US$900,00 to date.
To visit the Doolittle family donation page, visit here. Doolittle is the namesake of the CAPT John Doolittle Spirit of the “Naked Warrior” Award at the event.
For more information on the Frogman Swim, visit tampabayfrogman.com.
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