140-Acre Tactical Run & Cup • 20-Artist Lakeside Concert • October 3, 2026
Solemnly reading names of the 19 fallen.
Meet Ranger vet Andy Lucas & Carla onsite.
Kentucky's original & continuous host.
20 veterans & grand 20-guitar finale.
Free Queenslake lake membership for squads.
Annual opening tribute to the fallen 19.
Travis Manion & UA BeaverFit gauntlet.
Replica rifle must cross finish line.
140-acre course & Friesian caisson.
Kids obstacle course + FREE Sky Zone pass.
On-site memorial tattoos by Jennifer Kain.
Green River custom 19-bottle tribute.
Kentucky’s First, Longest-Running, and Continuous Host
"There is a saying in the military community that a soldier dies twice: once on the battlefield, and a second time when people stop speaking their name. To ward off that second death, our ultimate hope is that one day there will be dozens of Mogadishu Mile events across Kentucky—and we genuinely support every effort that honors our nation's fallen heroes."
Patriarch Bill Chmela (Age 92, USAF Veteran 1956–1960) and Founder John Chmela at Queenslake Horse Farm — Kentucky's Founding & Continuous Host.
When honoring warriors who gave everything in service to our nation, the setting matters. Sacrifices of this magnitude demand grounds that are reverent, majestic, and truly worthy of their memory. Queenslake was chosen not merely as a venue, but as a permanent sanctuary—an extraordinary 140-acre working horse farm framed by a pristine 40-acre lake, dozens of magnificent horses, rolling Bluegrass pastures, and sacred woodland trails. There is simply no other location in the Commonwealth that offers the vast scale, grandeur, and safety required to host hundreds of athletes, Gold Star families, and patriotic citizens without compromise.
In 2021, Queenslake set out with a clear, solemn purpose: to honor the fallen nineteen of Task Force Ranger and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten. Grounded in the lifelong dedication of the Chmela family—inspired by patriarch Bill Chmela, a 92-year-old United States Air Force veteran—Queenslake permanently dedicated these grounds to our nation's military heroes. We are proud to serve as Kentucky’s original, longest-running, and premier annual Mogadishu Mile Kentucky tribute as we prepare for our 6th consecutive gathering at Queenslake Horse Farm on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
We acknowledge and welcome the growing interest in new Mogadishu Mile events across the Commonwealth. It is gratifying to see our operational blueprint and Queenslake event photography serving as a foundation for other organizers in Kentucky. We fully support every race taking up the mantle, and we consider each new tribute a major success for the cause.
Our core commitment remains unchanged: to keep the names of our nineteen fallen heroes alive. To anyone stepping up to organize a new event, we stand ready to help promote your efforts and share the operational standards Queenslake has developed over the past six years.
Let's work together to make Kentucky the premier state for honoring our veterans—spanning from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky to the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and when it comes to honoring our fallen, expanding these tributes is a powerful way to ensure they are never forgotten.
Founded at Queenslake by the Chmela family in 2021 as Kentucky's first and sole continuous annual tribute, holding an unbroken 6-year operational legacy.
A professionally managed, safe 140-acre working horse farm featuring a 40-acre lake, 60+ horses, and dedicated on-site EMS throughout the course.
Kentucky's authorized Battalion Sponsor of the Three Rangers Foundation (holders of the official Mogadishu Mile emblem) alongside our dedicated support for the Night Stalkers Foundation.
Exclusive home of the permanent 19-station steel & limestone memorial trail, the Friesian horse caisson procession, and the annual Guitars For Vets Music Festival.
On October 3–4, 1993, nineteen American service members of Task Force Ranger made the ultimate sacrifice in Mogadishu, Somalia. We gather at Queenslake Horse Farm to keep their memories alive, honoring their actions through three primary tribute segments.
The ceremony opens with solemn bagpipe melodies played by Tore DeRolf echoing across the central lake, setting a respectful and reflective tone for the morning.
A silent equine funeral procession featuring black Friesian horses pulling a caisson and a flag-draped casket moves solemnly across the pastures.
We stand in silence for a collective prayer, followed by the Roll Call of the 19 Fallen Soldiers of Task Force Ranger, speaking each name aloud to honor their memory.
This is not an ordinary weekend 5K. The Mogadishu Mile Kentucky is an uncompromising military tactical crucible forged across 140 acres of private rolling Bluegrass pastures, dense timber trails, and waterfront obstacles at Queenslake. Built to test raw power, stamina, and unbreakable squad brotherhood—you start together, you conquer together, and no gear is left behind.
Squads carry twin heavy military steel ammo cans, replica combat service rifles (M16/M4), and the sacred full-size American Flag on staff—never touching Kentucky soil.
Station #1 BeaverFit "PAIN" Rig (Travis Manion Foundation), 400+ lb agricultural tire flips, plyo box step-ups (tested by pilot Mike Durant), cadence pushups, and medicine ball passes.
Athletes choosing the Ruck Division carry a mandatory 35-pound ruck pack or weighted vest across all 140 acres of forest hills and pasture climbs to simulate combat egress.
Positioned along Kentucky's historic limestone wall, 19 permanent steel memorial markers honor the fallen. Every competitor halts, reads the citation, and speaks the name aloud.
Compete for the prestigious Mogadishu Cup across 9 divisions with custom bourbon trophy plaques. Registration is 100% free.
The 6th Annual event introduces the Mogadishu Cup—a premier multi-division challenge designed to foster camaraderie, healthy competition, and ultimate pride across regional service organizations, first responders, military units, and athletic associations.
Crossing the finish line at Queenslake is just the beginning. Competitors, families, and spectators gather along the scenic 40-acre lakeside grounds for an unforgettable day of fellowship, healing, and celebration.
Continuous morning and afternoon sets on the lakeside stage featuring Guitars for Vets graduates and a headline patriotic concert.
Green River presents a nineteen-bottle collector tribute series, honoring each of the fallen 19 soldiers.
Licensed artists from Ink Addiction provide free commemorative military and tribute tattoos to competitors.
Complimentary coffee, hot breakfast, meals, and hydration provided through presenting retail partners.
20 Veterans. 20 Stories of Healing. One Historic Waterfront Finale.
This October 3rd, 20 combat-veteran graduates step out of the therapy room and onto Queenslake's 40'x30' waterfront amphitheater to perform songs that saved their lives—culminating in a Mystery Multi-Platinum National Headline Salute and an awe-inspiring 20-guitar ensemble finale.
[CLASSIFIED // MYSTERY HEADLINER]
Throughout the morning, 20 combat-veteran artists share unvarnished acoustic songs of survival and resilience. At 02:00 PM, a mystery multi-platinum National Headliner commands the stage alongside emcee Forbes Riley for a high-voltage classic rock tribute, inviting all 20 veteran guitarists back onstage for a unified, "We Are the World" style patriotic anthem across Queenslake.
Our event is dedicated to raising awareness and funding for veteran support programs. All voluntary donations go directly to:
Provides direct financial, physical, and emotional support to active-duty and veteran U.S. Army Rangers and their families, with dedicated programs for Gold Star families.
Provides immediate financial assistance, education, and support to families of fallen, wounded, and active duty soldiers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers).
We are proud to host national advocates, actors, veterans, and broadcasters who support our mission and help lead the event.
"The Queen of Pitch" • National Fitness Hall of Fame • Celebrity Host & Author
Invited Guest of Honor (Unconfirmed)
USMC Veteran, Paralympic Shooter, MC
TV Star (Pacific Blue, The O.C.) & Ambassador
Broadcaster, Founder of Kasem Cares
Traveling in for the Mogadishu Mile & Music Festival? Stay right by the action in beautiful Georgetown farm houses and countryside rentals located just 1 to 10 minutes from Queenslake (292 Soards Road).
1 to 10 minutes to the Queenslake starting line