Harper began running in blue with his family in 2013, while his dad was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. wear blue: run to remember is a national nonprofit that honors the service and sacrifice of the American military through active remembrance. Harper and his family embraced that mission wholeheartedly. It resonated so strongly that they hosted their own run at their local elementary school, inviting classmates, teachers, and neighbors to honor our military and remember the fallen alongside them. As his family's military journey continued, Harper carried wear blue with him to Tampa, Clarksville, and Leavenworth, and this fall he was helping bring wear blue to Operation Iron Ruck, the annual ruck march between Alabama and Auburn that raises awareness for veteran suicide prevention.

wear blue remembers Harper as a talented and driven athlete, a caring child of the military community who made friends wherever life took him, and a bright young mind who thrived both in and out of the classroom. He lived the wear blue mission every step of the way, and he will be deeply missed.