'NJ Run For The Fallen' to Remember Soliders

Posted by Mike Simpson
September 29, 2012

Holmdel Fire Company Number Two's Kevin Calamari ran a portion of the run in full fireman's gear, a heavy burden on such a humid evening. He is shown returning to his company after the run was complete.

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At the PNC Bank Arts Center, volunteers from the Holmdel Fire Co. Number 2 and Hazlet Fire Company Number One extended their ladders to hang an enormous flag over the roadway.

Credit Frank Galipo

Army Staff Sgt. Michael Minard of Union Beach (center), participated in the event using a hand pedaled bike. He was severely injured on duty in Iraq. He is shown with his daughters Kayla 8 (right) and Brooke 3 (left) after completing the Run for the Fallen.

Credit Frank Galipo

Stephen Forte and Kathleen Gurbisz Forte were consoled by a veteran at the tribute to Kathleen's brother, Army Capt. James Gurbisz, who died at age 25 in Iraq, on Nov. 45, 2005.

Credit Christina Johnson

Staff Sgt. Joe Beimfohr US Army (Retired) accepted a new hand-crank custom wheelchair by the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Warriors on behalf of the wounded veterans. Beimfohr planned to ride the chair for the last five miles to the NJ Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.

Credit Christina Johnson

Holmdel Fire Company Number Two's Kevin Calamari ran a portion of the run in full fireman's gear, a heavy burden on such a humid evening. He is shown returning to his company after the run was complete.

Credit Christina Johnson

Credit RunForTheFallen.org

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In a nonpartisan reflection of remembrance, a team of at least 54 active duty members of the military from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and other locations across the US will embark on a 168+ mile journey to honor every New Jersey service member killed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Each mile is dedicated to an individual NJ Hero and his/her family, and the run team will stop at each Hero Marker (each mile) to present a flag and personalized biographical card to waiting family members, friends and comrades with the goal of creating a 168+ mile memorial trail through New Jersey.

“NJ Run for the Fallen” will kick off on September 28 at 8 am at Cape May Lighthouse with a “start” ceremony for the three-day, 168+ mile run through Wildwood, Stone Harbor/Avalon, Ocean City, Somers Point, Egg Harbor, Galloway, Tuckerton, Ocean Township, Toms River, Brick, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant, Sea Girt, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Asbury Park, Long Branch, Oceanport, Shrewsbury and Lincroft to finish at the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Holmdel on National Gold Star Family Day, Sunday September 30.

The northbound runners will be in Long Branch around noon Sunday and be in the Holmdel area around 3-5 p.m. Route maps are available here.

This year our Run Team will be joined in Ocean City on Sept. 28 by members of The Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Vets. The Freedom Team are wounded service members in hand-crank wheelchairs as an integral part of our Run Team. Unlike pushrim wheelchairs, which require users to lean forward, this adaptive device is excellent for people with injuries that have resulted in amputation or paralysis. It was through the efforts of Achilles that these devices are now permitted in many marathons, including the ING New York City Marathon. More details are available here and here.

On Sunday afternoon as the Run enters Holmdel there will again be opportunities for the public to show support and run alongside our team for either the last 5 miles or a 2K run/walk into the PNC Arts Center to finish at the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial.

Read more about the event at the NJ Run for the Fallen website.

For more information and to find out how to participate by joining the run or to donate or volunteer please visit the NJ Run for the Fallen website at www.njrunforthefallen.org.

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