'Andrew's Top Gun Run' Honors Boy Scout Killed By Drunk Driver

CALVERTON, NY — March 30 would have marked Andrew McMorris' 16th birthday. If life were different, his family would have spent the day celebrating, likely on a trip, as their beloved boy loved travel — or just spending time with family and friends, with lots of music and laughter.

Undoubtedly, the day would have had some mention of aviation: Andrew wanted to become a pilot, dreamed of soaring high in the blue sky.

But Andrew will never celebrate his 16th birthday: He died when he was 12 years old, after he was struck by a drunk driver who plowed into his Boy Scout troop while they were out on a hike in Manorville in 2018.

Instead, Andrew's family will host an event, "Andrew's Top Gun Run 5K" on Saturday, March 26 at Enterprise Park at Calverton, to honor their son's memory. The setting is fitting, a "real airfield," where those who loved him will honor him in a way he'd love so much, "Maverick-style," his family said.

"My wife Alisa, daughter Arianna and myself as well as the entire McMorris family and everyone at the Andrew McMorris Foundation are thrilled to be able to have another event to remember our beloved son Andrew and to raise funds for AMF scholarships and Scouterships in his name as well as to bring awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving," John McMorris, Andrew's father, said in December.

He added: "This 5K run/walk is very special to all of us that knew and loved Andrew because as you may know he had a dream of becoming a pilot — and we used to have family bike trips here at EPCAL and the Grumman Memorial Park. Andrew loved these jet fighters and he always pretended that he was a pilot taking off in a plane when we rode our bikes on the old runways."

After he died, his family discussed his love of aviation.

"Andrew wanted to fly before he could walk. Airplanes, helicopters and rockets were the obsession of his life, and he achieved his first piloting goal during AeroCamp. Andrew was occasionally chided by parents, coaches and teachers for 'having his head in the clouds', but for Andrew, that only made sense," his family said. "He wanted his whole self in the clouds, broken free of the bonds of this earth, borne up into an endless sky, with nothing but blue around him and horizon ahead, aloft and away. Fly high, Andrew."

Since his death, Alisa and John have vowed to parent his legacy, working to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through the Andrew McMorris Foundation, created to celebrate his life and memory.

"We hope that this wonderful event will enable the community to learn more about Andrew and his giving and kind spirit as well as getting our message across that drinking and driving is deadly and 100 percent preventable," his family said. "Thank you to everyone who has supported us during these last few years since Andrew was tragically killed. We could not have gotten through these very difficult times without your love and support."

Andrew's family asks that those who loved Andrew put their grief into action and keep his spirit alive by supporting events such as the run, so they can continue to give out scholarships and Scouterships "to our deserving young leaders — as well as to assist us in getting the message out there not to drink and drive."

So far, more than 600 are registered for the event, where Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon will deliver opening remarks.

For information and to sign up for, or sponsor, the event, click here.