Check out this video (minute and a half) -- we'll meet you below.
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Starting on Flag Day back on June 14, a relay team of ten runners set off from Fort Irwin, California bound for Arlington National Cemetery. Each of the 4100 miles of their route is dedicated to a particular servicemember who has made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.
The runners leave at each mile in their trail a flag and nametag / bio-profile -- chronologically sequenced west to east by fatality date -- consecrating that mile and "activating" the memory of the fallen hero.
This daunting project grew from idea to internet footprint to sweaty reality among the circle of friends surrounding 1Lt. Mike Cleary of Dallas, Pennsylvania (our "Daily Epitaphs" page headlined his soccer coach's comment that he stood. . . "five foot nothing but was 7 - 5 in heart")
As much as Run for the Fallen celebrates our heroes, its moving backstory of the bonds of love and of friendship that endure the gulf of separation serves as a healthy model to a nation grieving for its fallen patriots and mourning its countrymen.
Run for the Fallen (RFTF) is encouraging physically active tributes to the fallen nationwide. The idea is that folks will dedicate a stint of walking, running, biking or other activity suitable to their fitness level in honor of the fallen. RFTF particularly invites such commemorations on August 24 to coincide with their arrival at Arlington.
The groups' Facebook page facilitates networking at the grassroots level on the 8/24 concept, cultivating a truely national participation. Despite having gained as yet little national exposure in the media, responses thus far for observances nationwide are encouraging.
Meanwhile, the team is keeping a blog as they trek. We're seeing in the comments section of their postings tributes to and anecdotes about our fallen heroes. We anticipate the blog site becoming a rich resource in our elegaic endeavors.
While they accept financial support, they vigorously re-direct support to five organizations dedicated to easing the burden of wounded soldiers, ameliorating the grief of gold star families, and perpetuating the memory of our fallen heroes.
This daunting project grew from idea to internet footprint to sweaty reality among the circle of friends surrounding 1Lt. Mike Cleary of Dallas, Pennsylvania (our "Daily Epitaphs" page headlined his soccer coach's comment that he stood. . . "five foot nothing but was 7 - 5 in heart")
As much as Run for the Fallen celebrates our heroes, its moving backstory of the bonds of love and of friendship that endure the gulf of separation serves as a healthy model to a nation grieving for its fallen patriots and mourning its countrymen.
Run for the Fallen (RFTF) is encouraging physically active tributes to the fallen nationwide. The idea is that folks will dedicate a stint of walking, running, biking or other activity suitable to their fitness level in honor of the fallen. RFTF particularly invites such commemorations on August 24 to coincide with their arrival at Arlington.
The groups' Facebook page facilitates networking at the grassroots level on the 8/24 concept, cultivating a truely national participation. Despite having gained as yet little national exposure in the media, responses thus far for observances nationwide are encouraging.
Meanwhile, the team is keeping a blog as they trek. We're seeing in the comments section of their postings tributes to and anecdotes about our fallen heroes. We anticipate the blog site becoming a rich resource in our elegaic endeavors.
While they accept financial support, they vigorously re-direct support to five organizations dedicated to easing the burden of wounded soldiers, ameliorating the grief of gold star families, and perpetuating the memory of our fallen heroes.
As you can tell, we're fired up about Run for the Fallen. We encourage you to browse around their web presence and hop aboard this bodacious commemoration in whatever way best suits you.
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