One of our favorite events here on St. John is right around the corner – the Chaotic Kayak race. For those of you not familiar with the race, it’s a wildly entertaining event in which teams from local businesses compete in a zany kayak race at Oppenheimer Beach. The teams raise money in an effort to get a head start during the race, and all of the money raised is donated to Team River Runner, an organization that brings wounded veterans to St. John for a week of rest and relaxation in November.
News of St. John is raising money to help this very worthy cause. Please click here if you’d like to donate to our team.
This year’s 2015 Chaotic Kayak Race has been changed to ‘CSM Robert Gallagher Memorial Chaotic Kayak Race’. Command Sergeant Major Robert Gallagher passed away this year due to natural causes with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Gallagher, who parachuted into Panama during Operation Just Cause, served as a platoon sergeant with Task Force Ranger in the Somalia battle known by “Black Hawk Down,” and fought his way into Baghdad in 2003. He was found dead in his Georgia home Oct. 13 of natural causes.
Command Sergeant Major Robert Gallagher was 52 years old.
This year’s race will be held on Sunday, August 2 at Oppenheimer Beach. The race begins at noon. The public is welcome and invited to cheer along their favorite team. Food and drinks will be available.
Here’s a pic of Team River Runner during their November 2014 trip:
