For former Navy SealMike Sarraille, one jump in honor of fallen soldiers just wouldnât do. And it turns out, one continent wouldnât do either.
Thatâs why Sarraille and nine other special ops veterans started to skydive on every continent in a week, an endeavor they undertook in 2023, per Wide Open Country.
Itâs referred to as the âTriple 7â â seven skydives on seven continents in seven days, the Washington Examiner reported.
âWhen we say the words, especially with Memorial Day, âNever forget and to forever honor those who gave everything,â never forget the example that these men and women set. And âforever honor,â forever honor means living our lives to the fullest,â Sarraille said.
Sarraille said this special mission should inspire Americans.
âIn special operations, we try to find the hardest things that people say is impossible,â he said. âDonât tell the American fighting man or woman that something canât be done. Weâll prove you wrong.â
Sarraille jumped last year in memory of a fellow soldier who saved his life.
âI jumped for Michael Monsoor, who was posthumously awarded the medal of honor,â he said to Wide Open Country. âHe jumped over a grenade 3 feet from me, as well as another seal, to save our lives.â
âWe did something that people said, âIt couldnât be done.â We proved them wrong, but guys like Mikey and all the ones weâve lost are never far from my mind. They gave their today and every one of their tomorrows,â Sarraille said, per the Washington Examiner. âThis is also for the military families. They pay a cost, especially when a loved one doesnât come home. Military families are the unsung heroes.â
Sarraille also talked about survivorâs guilt.
âThere is a bit of survivorâs guilt when you come back from something like that,â he said. âIt still lingers. But at some point, that has to turn into living in their memory. Thatâs exactly what this trip is about.â
The group documented their jumps the film âTriple 7: They Said It Couldnât Be Done,â which was directed and produced by Dan Myrick of âThe Blair Witch Project.â
âIt was an opportunity for me to get into this very elite world, this very closed, kind of mysterious world, and sort of demystify a little bit about what these guys are about because Hollywood has the tendency to stereotype them and portray them either as broken soldiers or âRamboâ types,â Myrick said.
âI realized that they are these really super cool guys. Theyâre creative and empathetic, very smart, intelligent â emotionally intelligent â guys,â he added. âWe donât forget these individuals that gave up everything for us to do what we do.â
A part of the proceeds from the film go to the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships for military members and first responders.
The film has raised $2 million of its $7 million goal for Folds of Honor.
