LT Michael Murphy Honor Apparel

LT Michael P. Murphy honor apparel commemorates the Navy SEAL who was killed in action on Operation Red Wings in 2005. The Murph workout was Lt Murphy's favorite training routine; CrossFit adopted it as the Memorial Day hero WOD in his honor. Honor apparel is worn year-round, not just on Memorial Day, and is one of the most respectful ways for the CrossFit community to keep his memory active. Pieces start at $19.88 at the VIP base.

Who LT Michael Murphy Was

Brief background that honor apparel commemorates:

• Navy SEAL Lieutenant, US Navy SEAL Team 10
• Killed in action June 28, 2005, on Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountains
• Awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in 2007 for his actions during the operation
• His training routine (the one-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, one-mile run with vest) became known as "Murph" and was adopted by CrossFit as the Memorial Day hero WOD

Honor apparel pays tribute to Lt Murphy and the three other operators killed on Operation Red Wings (Petty Officers Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz, and the Helicopter Quick Reaction Force).

Respectful Design Conventions For Honor Apparel

Design rules that honor the memorial nature:

• "In honor of LT Michael Murphy" or "Operation Red Wings 2005" as the centerpiece text
• Subtle imagery: trident symbol, American flag, Navy SEAL Team 10 reference. Avoid stylized cartoon imagery.
• Patriotic palette: navy, red, white, military green. Avoid bright or trendy colors.
• The dedication: many shirts include "Never Forget" or "We Will Not Forget" as the closing line
• Subtle photo reference: some pieces include a small respectful photo of Lt Murphy on the chest or back; verify the box owner has proper permission for any photo use

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Best Blanks For Honor Apparel

The blanks that hold up year-round:

• Premium CVC Jersey Tee (Next Level, $24.88 VIP base): vintage triblend, the year-round honor tee default
• Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee (Bear Grips, $19.88 VIP base): cotton tee for high-volume box orders
• Comfort Soft Hoodie (Bear Grips, $36.88 VIP base): premium honor hoodie for cool-weather wear
• Long Sleeve Cotton Shirt (Bella+Canvas, $29.88 VIP base): long-sleeve honor shirt for year-round wear

Donating Proceeds From Honor Apparel

The respectful default for honor apparel sales is donating a portion (or all) of proceeds to a veterans charity. The most-used destinations:

• LT Michael P. Murphy Memorial Foundation: directly supports Lt Murphy's family's memorial initiatives
• Navy SEAL Foundation: supports the broader Navy SEAL community
• Wounded Warrior Project: veterans support broadly
• Operation Red Wings Memorial: dedicated to the operators killed in the operation

Post the donation transparency on the shop page: "100% of proceeds donated to [charity]" or "$10 per shirt donated."

Year-Round Wear vs Memorial Day Only

Honor apparel is intentionally designed for year-round wear:

• No "Memorial Day 2026" stamp: leave the shirt undated so it does not become time-stamped to a single year
• Year-round honor language: "In honor of LT Michael Murphy" works any day of the year
• Subtle design: athletes are more likely to wear a subtle honor shirt to the gym, the park, or casual outings; loud Memorial Day-only shirts tend to sit in the drawer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it appropriate to sell LT Michael Murphy honor apparel for profit?

Selling at cost or with a charity donation is the standard respectful model. Most boxes donate 30-100% of proceeds to a veterans charity.

Can we use a photo of LT Michael Murphy on the apparel?

Verify proper permissions before any photo use. Many boxes use the silhouette or text-only memorial design to avoid licensing issues.

What is the best charity for the donation portion?

LT Michael P. Murphy Memorial Foundation and the Navy SEAL Foundation are the most-used. Pick one and post the donation transparency upfront.

Should honor apparel be sold year-round or only around Memorial Day?

Year-round is appropriate. The memorial is permanent, not seasonal. Many boxes sell honor apparel as a recurring revenue line that funds ongoing veterans donations.