FORT JACKSON, SC -- Fort Jackson will join a host of other organizations across the country Aug. 20 at 8 a.m., as it holds its inaugural “Run/Walk for the Fallen” at Hilton Field’s softball complex to honor fallen Soldiers and their families.
The Run for the Fallen is an annual event held throughout the United States to help bring awareness to Fallen Soldiers. This year Fort Jackson will honor its Fallen Soldiers with its first 5k run/walk for their sacrifices to our country. The public is welcome to participate and sign up may be completed online at by clicking on the accompanying "Registration Form" link. The registration form should be submitted before Aug. 12. Late registration will be available at Hilton Field from 7 to 7:45 a.m. the day of the run.
“I want to ensure that we bring awareness through recognizing, honoring, and showing respect to fallen Soldiers, particularly the ones from South Carolina, with a 5k awareness run/walk. The goal is to complete a safe and successful event while honoring our fallen Soldiers and their families," said Maj. Gen. James M. Milano, commanding general.
The Directorate of Army Community Service and Survivor Outreach Services developed and planned the 2011 run and plan for it to be an annual event. DACS will provide bibs for participants with the name of a South Carolina Fallen Soldier (there are 245 to date) to include active duty, reserve and National Guard who has died while on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Bibs will also be provided for runners who desire to run for fallen comrades not from South Carolina.
All Fort Jackson units/activities are encouraged to participate in this event and it is also open to the public. The Soldier Support Institute is providing 245 service members to represent each South Carolina fallen soldier.
According to the “Run for the Fallen” website, last year, there were over 8,300 participants in 45 states and two countries, running a combined total of over 49,000 miles in remembrance of those fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The website states the event began June 14, 2008, when a small team of runners ran across America to raise awareness about the lives of those service members who fought, to activate their memories and keep their spirits alive, to support organizations that help wounded veterans and the families of those killed, and to aid the healing process for those Americans whose lives have been affected by the war.
For more information about Fort Jackson’s run/walk, contact Leslie Smith, SOS Coordinator, at (803) 751-4867/1103 or email her at Leslie.s.smith@us.army.mil.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Media interested in covering this event need to contact Pat Jones at (803) 751-7650; Patrick.jones@conus.army.mil prior to noon Aug. 18.
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