RANGER CHECKPOINT

MAY 2026

A Message from the Chairman:

Fellow Rangers and Supporters of the Ranger Community –

Summer is almost here, and I hope that you and your families will have an opportunity to visit YOUR Ranger Memorial during the season. 

I would ask that everyone please keep my predecessor and the 2^nd Chairman of the National Ranger Memorial Foundation, BG (Retired) Joe Stringham and his family, in your thoughts and prayers. Joe is experiencing some health challenges, but as tough as he is, I am confident he will overcome those challenges in short order. 

I hope that many of you can join us at Ft. Benning in June for the annual Ranger Rendezvous. During the week our very own Blair Brown will be inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame. We are grateful to have you on the team, Blair, and thank you for your long, dedicated personal and professional service to the entire Ranger Community! Please join me in congratulating him and the entire 2026 Ranger Hall of Fame Class for their induction!

We look forward to soon announcing our Academic Year 26-27 National Ranger Memorial Foundation scholarship recipients. 

As always, thanks for your service to our nation and the Ranger Community. 

Rangers Lead The Way!

Larry Burris

Brigadier General, US Army (Retired)



The National Ranger Memorial Foundation runs on the generosity of people and companies who believe in what we're building. This month, we're proud to recognize three of them.

Renewed Platinum Sponsors

We're honored to welcome back two Platinum Sponsors whose continued support makes our mission possible.

Colt has once again stepped up at the Platinum level. A name synonymous with the American military tradition, Colt's commitment to the Ranger community speaks for itself — and we're grateful to have them in our corner.

Checkout Champ returns as a Platinum Sponsor as well. Their dedication to honoring those who serve, and to supporting the families behind them, continues to help us preserve the Memorial and fund the scholarships that change lives.

To both: thank you for standing with us again. Rangers Lead the Way!

Welcoming Our Newest Bronze Sponsor

We're pleased to welcome BlackCape as our newest Bronze Sponsor. Their support is a meaningful addition to the NRMF family, and we're thankful they've chosen to invest in this mission alongside us.



Join Them

Every sponsorship helps us preserve the iconic National Ranger Memorial and provide college scholarships to Rangers and their family members through the Kenneth C. Leuer/Joseph S. Stringham NRMF Scholarship Endowment. Won't you help us grow?

To learn more about sponsorship packages, contact Blair Brown at Blair@RangerMemorial.org.

Secure Your Ranger Legacy Today



Honor your or a Ranger’s service with a personalized engraved stone at the National Ranger Memorial at Fort Benning, GA.

Order by June 5th for engraving and placement at the Memorial before Father's Day, the Ranger Rendezvous, and Ranger Hall of Fame ceremony.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

🎯 AND THE WINNER IS... 🎯

Congratulations to KIRK WOOD, winner of the National Ranger Memorial Foundation Rifle Raffle!🏆 



A huge thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and supported this fundraiser. Every dollar raised goes directly toward our two-fold mission: maintaining the National Ranger Memorial at Fort Benning and providing college scholarships to U.S. Army Rangers and their families. Your support keeps the legacy alive and we couldn't do it without you!

A special thank you to BattleTestedEquipment, one of our Platinum Sponsors and the generous donor of this incredible custom rifle. BTE-USA Manufacturing's commitment to the Ranger community goes far beyond this raffle, and we are deeply grateful for their continued partnership and unwavering support of our Rangers. 🤝 RLTW!

Visit BTE's Website @ bte-usa.com/

Annual Darby 40-Mile Ruck March Possibly Ending

Read the full story at stripes.com

A Legacy of Leadership: Three Generations of Rangers!



We are incredibly honored to share this remarkable family history sent to us by Ranger Randall Laird, highlighting three generations of Lairds who have earned the coveted Ranger Tab.

Ranger Class 8-61: Kenneth W. Laird (Grandfather)

Ranger Class 12-84: Randall Laird (Father)

Ranger Class 10-15: Patrick Laird (Son)

The Laird family’s commitment to Special Operations doesn't stop there—it continues to run deep in the next generation. Randall’s daughter, Fiona Laird, is currently serving as the 4th Bn S1 for the elite 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers) at JBLM. Next month, she is heading to Fort Campbell to step up as the 1st Bn S1! Fiona is no stranger to the grind either; she successfully completed SERE training at Fort Rucker in February 2025, tackling challenges that echo the grit and resilience required to earn the tab.

To the entire Laird family: thank you for your decades of continued dedication, sacrifice, and exceptional service to our great nation.

Rangers Lead The Way!

Army Rangers Will Now Stab Through a New Bayonet Course

Read the full story at ArmyTimes.com

From Around Our Ranger & Army Communities:

Anything going on in your area that you'd like us to share? Send details of the event to RangerMemorial.org/contact-us, and we'll do our best to announce it in a future Ranger Checkpoint newsletter.

Our mission at the National Ranger Memorial Foundation is clear - to honor and support Rangers and their families. Through the establishment and preservation of the National Ranger Memorial, we aim to provide a tangible testament to the Rangers’ sacrifices and contributions. And our commitment extends beyond the monument itself - we support Rangers and their families in other ways, including scholarships and various projects throughout our Ranger communities. It is through this mission that we hope to preserve the legacy of our Nation’s Rangers, ensuring their bravery and dedication are not forgotten. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today:



Ranger Memorial Scholarship

and Preservation Fund

Editor: Molly Stringham, Molly@RangerMemorial.org