WEST POINT, N.Y. (Dec. 1, 2011) -- Forty members of the Army Lacrosse team traveled to New York City Nov. 20 to participate in "A Run Down Hero Highway."
The memorial run is described on the Lead the Way Fund's website as "A fun-filled, patriotic event that pays tribute to a local hero and helps raise money for the families of Army Rangers who have been killed, disabled, or are currently serving in harm's way."
The event was created five years ago in honor of Sgt. James (Jimmy) Regan, a former lacrosse player at Duke University who played under current Army head coach, Joe Alberici. After graduating from Duke, Regan turned down lucrative Wall Street job offers to enlist in the Army. He was killed in action in 2007 while serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment in northern Iraq. The Army Lacrosse team looks forward to the event every year and comes away from the ceremony moved and proud to have been in the company of such dedicated public servants.
The 4.5-mile run took participants to Battery Park, past Ground Zero, with a constant view of the Statue of Liberty.
The Army Lacrosse team had players place 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th overall, in a race with more than 1,000 participants.
The post-race celebration and remembrance service included a color guard from the 75th Ranger Regiment, a speech by its deputy commander and the presentation of portraits to the families of two Rangers and one FDNY First Responder by Phil Taylor from The American Fallen Soldiers Project.
"The run serves as a reminder to all of us that everyday Soldiers are sacrificing their lives for our freedom and to honor them in such a fun environment creates a unique camaraderie and builds lifelong memories for our team," Class of 2012 Cadet Devin Lynch, the team captain, said.
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