J.R. Martinez appreciates honor of leading ‘Military Appreciation Days’ parade

Memorial Day has only deepened in meaning for J.R. Martinez.

The Army veteran, who was wounded in Iraq, is an actor, author, inspirational speaker and winner of the 13th season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” He said the “Military Appreciation Days” parade, for which he is grand marshal, will mark a “great day” for Myrtle Beach.

The parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Boulevard, from 27th Avenue North southward to Ninth Avenue North, leading to a Family Picnic, noon-2 p.m., between Eighth and Ninth avenues North, with a meet-and-greet with Martinez, military exhibits, children’s activities, a concert by the Andrew Thielen Big Band (bigbandonline.com) and the annual Veterans Beard & ’Stache Beach Bash. Omar Shriners chefs will serve free meals for all military personnel and veterans, and their families.

In a phone call last week, Martinez said with such a parade and picnic, he appreciates the honor “as one of the many representatives for our military community” to help share the greater thanks for all veterans and the men and women in service.

A Louisiana native who grew up in Alabama and Dalton, Ga., near the Tennessee line, Martinez said that in his youth, community events like Myrtle Beach’s timed so close to Memorial Day were not common, and “that’s unfortunate,” but with this extra foot forward this weekend and all month here in awareness and education about families’ personal connection to the military, “that’s what this country needs.”

“I’m blessed,” said Martinez, who turns 32 in June.

He reminded everyone of the observance and reverence Memorial Day deserves.

“Memorial Day is about those who never made it home,” he said, “who won’t ever have a day to party.”

After surviving a roadside bombing in Iraq in 2003, and recovering for almost three years, including 34 surgeries, Martinez said he wants “to also use my presence on this Earth” to help veterans’ and other charitable causes, and to meet service personnel and learn about their lives and challenges.

Many people became familiar with Martinez’s life as he danced his way with Karina Smirnoff to a Mirror Ball Trophy in 2011 on “Dancing with the Stars.” In this 20th season of the show, which concludes next week, he’s rooting for fellow Army veteran Noah Galloway, who lost parts of two limbs from an explosion in 2005 in Iraq, but has rebounded for new personal gains in multiple ways.

Having met and spent time with Galloway several times, Martinez brought up Galloway’s inner strength that just begins to show with such a firm handshake, and how he relates to Galloway in overcoming what could be perceived as limitations.

Martinez saluted Galloway’s professional dance partner, Sharna Burgess, for her “amazing job in choreographing for him,” in a format that aims to measure “that growth and development” among the participants.

His tip for Galloway in this home stretch for the dance finals: “Don’t get so caught up that you’re not listening to her.”

Seeing him go far on the show as Amy Purdy, a Paralympic snowboarder with two prosthetic lower legs, did last fall, Martinez said such resolve proves such competitors earn their standing by going past any stage with “people giving him sympathy votes.”

Daytime soap fans also might know Martinez from before his dancing feat, from a three-year part as Brot Monroe, a combat veteran on ABC’s “All My Children,” among various TV roles.

Martinez said although he doesn’t plan to get back into acting, it afforded him “great times,” part of the groundwork for a new pursuit, crossing over into hosting and producing a TV show for which he continues crafting a concept in his pitches to find “the right fit” with a network.

He said he simply wants to share people’s inspirational achievements in an entertaining way, as Galloway and Purdy have moved mountains, respectively, helping such folks be seen not as anyone with disabilities, but simply to “ show them as human beings” in their fruitful, happy lives and reaching new goals.

This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 8:00 AM with the headline "J.R. Martinez appreciates honor of leading ‘Military Appreciation Days’ parade."