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[music]

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(Christina Rodriguez-Smith) So in 2013, I was 
preparing for a 12-mile road march

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and I was having a lot of pain. And so, six months into 
physical therapy, they decided to do an MRI

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and found that I had completely blown my
disc in my back.

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So, I had to have back surgery

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and at that point, the civilian doctor stated

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"You can't do your job anymore, 
it's not recommended."

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So, at that point and I just chose to get out.

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I joined as a 92-Mike which is a mortuary
affairs specialist.

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I got to work at local morgues 
in the state of Virginia

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and then on my first deployment 
went to Kuwait City

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and worked with remains there, and then 
my second deployment was in Iraq.

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Um, after, getting out of the Army
and meeting my husband

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shortly before getting out,

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it's been more of I want to honor the 
people that I've sent home.

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The people that have died 
for us and this country.

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This weekend is the 30th annual 
Bataan Memorial Death March

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and I will be participating on Sunday 
in the full 26.2-mile march.

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It's my third time participating in the full.

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I've nominated through memories of honor 
soldiers that I've actually sent home.

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This year, my inspiration is for 
five of my fellow 92-mikes

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[choking up] four of them, um, committed suicide

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and one of them died in a motorcycle accident.

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Um so, as far as working with memories of 
honor I've nominated a couple of soldiers

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that I've sent home but also
working with them and handing out

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memorial bibs, and those are what racers
will wear,

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um, it's an in honor of one of the

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fallen soldiers and we have them put
that on their pack and put it on the

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front just so that other people can see
who you're honoring and doing the race for.

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It