Escorted by Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall police department cruisers, a dozen Virginia Run for the Fallen runners completed the final legs of a four-day, 240-mile run by taking the last paces of the event through JBM-HH and Arlington National Cemetery May 3.
Running for the memories of Virginia service members who have died in the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, the entourage entered at Hatfield Gate during the noon hour, ran past Memorial Chapel, then north on McNair Road to Old Post Chapel, where one of the final flag mile-markers or "hero markers" was erected.
Veterans Gary Campbell and Chris Cwiklinski co-planted a hero marker flag in the vicinity of ANC's Chapel Gate. The dwindling miles of the run left Campbell closer to honoring his fallen son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kielin Dunn, who is buried in ANC's Section 60. Dunn was killed in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2010.
"Words can't express how you feel through this whole process," Campbell said of the run, which started in Virginia Beach and concluded at Arlington National Cemetery. "This is also a reminder that Memorial Day is coming up. Most Americans think of Memorial Day as a day to have barbecues. I say that's what you should do. That's what America is all about, but just remember that sacrifices have been made by people giving their lives for people to be able to do that."
The final mile of the commemorative run was actually a walk through Arlington National Cemetery's Section 60 where many recently-fallen service members rest.
Before entering Hatfield Gate, another hero marker was erected, and a JBM-HH employee and Run for the Fallen volunteer was a part of that moment. Carla Moss met the family of Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Mark Mayo at one of the final marker ceremonies. Mayo was shot and killed at Naval Station Norfolk in 2014 and is buried in Arlington's Section 60.
"Just being there with the runners, Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Mayo's family and with the other families that were present, I was overwhelmed with gratitude, honor and respect at having met such loving families and dedicated volunteers at an event that honored their fallen loved ones along with many others who served," Moss said.
The 2015 run was the third annual Virginia Run for the Fallen, which also remembered fallen Vietnam veterans on the 50th anniversary of the southeast Asian war.
Social Sharing