It’s a powerful gathering, to say the least.
On Saturday, hundreds of military personnel and Long Islanders came together for an emotional event honoring Navy Lieutenant Colonel Michael Murphy’s remarkable resilience.
The crowd at the annual Suffolk County rally participated in an intense training routine in memory of the 29-year-old Navy Seal who lost his life in 2005. Murphy made a heroic decision during a Taliban ambush, sacrificing his safety to call for reinforcements, a mission famously portrayed in the film “Lone Survivor.”
“We started off with a mile run followed by 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats, and then another mile run,” shared Kazi Larsen, a former seal and Murphy’s BUD/S roommate.
“To truly honor Murph, we do it while wearing a 20-pound vest,” he added.
Larsen, now 47, revisited the Michael P. Murphy Navy Seal Museum in Saville. He was among nearly 350 participants, running his first mile holding an American flag to honor his late friend.
Having known many of the other 18 service members who perished with Murphy during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan, Larsen emphasized the weight of this occasion.
Since the museum opened in 2022, the Memorial Day weekend event has increasingly drawn local participants, according to former seal and executive director Chris Willie.
He mentioned that one woman even traveled from Italy specifically to participate in the “Murph.”
“I want to create a positive and fun atmosphere so people want to spread the word and come back,” Willie explained.
For John Murphy, Michael’s brother and a 37-year-old SUNY police officer in Stony Brook, this occasion signifies something much deeper.
“It’s incredibly moving, and I’m thrilled to see individuals grasp the meaning of this weekend,” he noted.
The legacy of a hero
The event traces its origins back to 2007, when Air Force Colonel Joshua Appel, who recovered Murphy’s body after a brutal firefight, first initiated it at a gym in Tucson, Arizona.
“The Murph” has since turned into a global tradition observed by athletes worldwide.
“Michael finished it in around 32 minutes, but when in Iraq, he clocked in at 28,” recounted Daniel Murphy, a Vietnam veteran with a strong bond to the museum.
A few years earlier, Daniel visited his son’s grave almost weekly, often to chat with him and update him on the museum’s happenings.
“This year, I’ll share with him how competitive the event was, with two participants finishing in 33 and 34 minutes,” he recalled.
Maureen Murphy, Michael’s mother, who frequently conducts tours at the museum, values the event for helping more people connect with her son.
“He had such a big heart. He would push himself to the limit, but if his friends were in distress, he’d feel their pain too,” she said.
Larsen reminisced about Murphy’s commitment, recalling a time he faced grueling conditions during training just a week after Murphy’s passing.
“I was freezing and exhausted, and then out of the blue, I found a candy bar hidden in the barracks. It was from Murph. He looked out for everyone,” he said.
Nearly two decades after his death, Murphy is remembered with the Medal of Honor, but his impact continues. This was evident with 16-year-old Finn Siavone from Bayshore, who became paralyzed after a middle school wrestling accident.
Meeting Daniel Murphy at the museum, Finn expressed gratitude for the support that has driven him through rigorous physical therapy.
“It’s hard to articulate, but they’ve instilled determination in me,” he shared, proudly completing the challenge this year.
“I hope to apply to the Naval Academy and eventually become a seal,” said Siavone, proudly wearing a weighted vest autographed by Robert O’Neill, the seal who took down Osama bin Laden.
