Brian St. Germain, born on July 18 1983, grew up in West Warwick where he attended public school as a smart, skinny kid with glasses.  He was active in various youth sports, such as, baseball, basketball, soccer and even jujitsu, and was a real car fanatic!  In the eighth grade Brian ran his first cross-country meet for Deering Middle School.  Although he finished at the back of the pack, the seed was planted for an award-winning track career. 

Brian decided to give cross country another go in his freshmen year at  West Warwick High School (WWHS ) ... that's when it clicked.  By his sophomore year, Brian ended his basketball career to focus on indoor and outdoor track as well as cross country.  His running career at WWHS garnered Brian various awards, including the title of captain on all running teams as a senior and making the All State team in both indoor and outdoor hurdles. Although recruited to run track by universities such as the University of Rhode and Bucknell, Brian decided to join the United States Marine Corps. 

Throughout his life, when Brian put his mind to something he usually succeeded.  This mentality was no different when he decided to become a Marine.  He was quickly promoted to Lance Corporal and then Corporal, serving his first tour of duty in Iraq outside Fullujah Iraq in 2004.  During this tour he received the Naval Achievement Award medal for his units preparedness for convoys as well as Green and Brown belt Martial Arts Instructor titles. It was on his second tour in Iraq in 2006, while based in Al ASAD Iraq, that the convoy he was supplying security for was overcome by a flash flood while crossing a small river bed.  Brian and seven other Marines were killed.  Brian was 22 years young.                                                                                   

Brian was posthumously promoted to Sargent, as his promotion was pending approval at the time of his death.  

Events such as the Labor Day Memorial 5K serve as loving tributes and carry on the legacies of two great men and role models, Brian St Germain and Tommy Medeiros.