Reports - Run For the Fallen
Run For the Fallen 3/509th PIR Memorial Video - “Gone but not forgotten.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjyM1PCtFxI
AUGUST 2, 2008
Terri and her daughter Vanessa drove over 350 miles from Indiana to Tennessee to support the national runners for their son and brother CPL Joseph Strong (run on August 3rd) who was KIA in Iraq. Terri took along Dustin’s runner’s bib to place at his flag and mile on August 3rd near Dickson, TN. She is also placing a sign of support along the route to remember the 19 KIA from the 3/509th.
National runners with Joey’s Aunt Joni, sister Vanessa, and mom Terri near Ft. Campbell, KY.
“We are done with Day 49 for the Run For the Fallen. It seemed to go very well with a lot of supporters and enthusiasm. Some local people ran today for Joey because they could not run tomorrow. You can view the newspaper from Clarksville, TN to see the story at www.theleafchronicle.com. Today’s run included 3/509th soldiers SSG Linck, CPL Gifford, SGT Gibson, SPC Ford and SPC Murphy. I talked to serveral people today who ran and are running the entire run. They are amazing. They kept thanking me for coming and supporting them, but they did not seem to realize that they are the ones supporting us. I just can not thank everyone enough for their efforts when it comes to supporting our troops. The troops are the reason that we are here in a free country and I am glad that people realize that. I will send you another update tomorrow after the run.
Runners & Ft. Campbell, KY soldiers with national organizer of Run For the Fallen, Jon Bellona (flag).
The runners are starting the run at 6:30 in the morning on August 3rd. Here are August 2nd pictures of the stop at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, and also of the stakes that I made that I am going to literally pound into the ground where they place the soldiers’ flags. The ground is so hard down here in KY and TN. Take care and love always.” ~Terri, mom of CPL Joseph A. Strong, KIA December 26, 2007, OIF.
Click on images to enlarge.
Flowers were placed at the Arlington National Cemetery Section 60 grave of SSG Henry W. Linck in remembrance on the day of his run and flag placement by Run For the Fallen in Tennessee. Our most sincere thanks to all of the runners who honored Henry through this kind and meaningful gesture.
Run For the Fallen was featured on the NBC Nightly News on August 2, 2008 and it will also be on the CBS Evening News on Sunday, August 3, 2008. Go to the MEMORIAL VIDEOS TAB above to view.
AUGUST 3, 2008
“It is Dustin’s Day for Run For the Fallen 2008. I am on my way out to walk my mile.” -Judy Donica
DUSTIN
Still missing,
Still wishing,
You were here.
Never forgetting,
Always regretting,
You left us too soon.
Hearts aching,
Hearts breaking,
Our lives will never be the same.
When tears fall only once a day,
The pain will still be here to stay,
It’ll be progress…Not there yet.
Miss you. Love, Mom
~ ~ ~
Along the TN route, from CPL Joseph Stong’s mother, Terri:
Day 50 run for 3/509th paratroopers Dustin Donica, Joseph Strong, Douglas Tinsley & Jeremiah Johnson.
“I had a good time with the run on Day 50 which bagan at 7 a.m. We loved being with the great people who are dedicating their summer to running for the fallen soldiers. It was a very emotional day, but it was worth the time and effort that was taken to drive down to TN and be a part of this amazing event. It was not quite as organized as we thought it would be, but it was as good as could be expected. The runners are not familiar with the route as most of them are from California or Colorado, and it is hard for them to determine where they will be placing the flags for the fallen. We originally placed our bibs that I had put on the stakes for the ground where we determined the miles would be considering the starting point, but we ended up being almost a mile off of their calculations, so we had to go back and pull up our markers. Then there ended up being 5 soldiers between Joey and Douglas Tinsley instead of two. So again we had to pull up the markers after placing them a second time. It was a lot of driving and a lot of stress. I did not get pictures of the flags for Dustin Donica or Jeremiah Johnson because they could not determine where they would be placed in the towns. We also had to drive all the way back to IN yet. The national runners are, however, taking pictures of each flag that they put up which will be used in their documentary that they are making.
There was a group of people in the small town of Dickson, TN where Dustin Donica’s flag was placed and they joined in with the national runners. The local people were really excited to join the run. I met a family whose boy was killed on Christmas Eve 2006, the day before Joey and Douglas. They were from Wisconsin and came down just to support their son’s runners, also. It is hard to believe that at least 15 soldiers were KIA between Christmas Eve and the day after on that year during the holiday. I am so glad that all of our nation’s fallen are being remembered with this run.”
Jon Bellona reads the names of the fallen before the run on August 3, 2008.
Joey Strong’s sister, Vanessa, and mom, Terri.
AUGUST 4, 2008
Day 51 near Nashville, TN, running for 3/509th fallen paratroopers, Jeffrey Bisson, Sean Fennerty, Phillip McNeill, Toby Olsen, and Jamie Wilson.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/runforthefallen/sets/72157604240315898/
Aloha ALL,
I am Lis Olsen and Toby was my oldest son. I too am so very grateful for those who will not let the memory of these young men and women fade. “The greatest casualty is being forgotten.” To the organizers, to the parents and the families of these fine young men and women, I say, “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart . Respectfully, Lis
Since Lt. Col. James Olsen and his wife Lis are stationed in Germany, they were unable to be along the runner’s route in TN for Toby’s mile and placement of his flag. Lis’ co-worker’s son Jason and his wife were in Nashville to represent them today:
AUGUST 5, 2008
Day 52, TN, Mile 3125
SGT Russell A. Kurtz
CPL James T. Lindsey & CPL Clifford A.Spohn, III
AUGUST 10, 2008
Day 57, TN, Mile 3409
SGT Ryan J. Baum
AUGUST 12, 2008
Debi and Rick (their son, SSGT Henry W. Linck, was KIA in OIF on December 7, 2008 with the 3/509th PIR and was Dustin Donica’s squad leader) are cross-country truckers. Several days ago, Debi e-mailed me saying that they would be in Christiansbug, VA on August 11th to drop off a delivery. I told them that the runners for Run For the Fallen would be following the same route up Interstate 81 and would end that day in Christiansbug, VA. Yesterday I noticed on the DOD site that a soldier from Christiansburg, VA was KIA on August 10th in Iraq - SGT Kenneth B. Gibson, 25, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25gh Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Jon Bellona makes a sign and flag for SGT Kenneth Gibson of Christiansburg, VA.
Debi Linck, Henry’s step-mom, and Jon Bellona place the flag for SGT Gibson.
Debi said, not only did they meet up with the runners along the highway, but Jon Bellona let Rick and Debi post the flag for SGT Gibson, only then to discover that their son Henry Linck had served in Afghanistan with SGT Gibson with the same unit out of Hawaii, before both of them served in OIF at separate times with different units. The Lincks and the Run For the Fallen runners were interviewed by the Roanoke TV station Channel 10 http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/new_river_valley/article/runners_remembering_fallen_soldier_from_our_area/15569/
Jon Bellona (with flag), runners and Rick Linck being interviewed by the news crew.
“I will say this much, these runners are awesome! They were full of hugs and thanks for our son’s sacrifice. When I first met John Bellona, he opened his arms and gave me a big hug and all I could do was cry. Rick and I both thank all of the members of Run For the Fallen and for what they are doing to remember the sacrifices of our military. It means more to us than anyone could ever describe in words. After we posted the flag for SGT Gibson and talked with the news crew, John Bellona decided to go ahead and run an additional mile in honor of SGT Gibson, right there in his hometown of Christiansburg, VA. I was in tears just knowing that Henry had a hand in all of this. All of this coundn’t have been planned. It was simply meant to be. “ -Debi & Rick Linck
Running the mile for SGT Kenneth Gibson, Christiansburg, VA.
Rick Linck, dad of SSGT Henry W. Linck, Jon Bellona, and Allen, Run For the Fallen in Christiansburg, VA.
AUGUST 14, 2008
SGT Shawn G. Adams
AUGUST 24, 2008 Final Day Event
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Family members of the 3/509th will be at Arlington National Cemetery for the final event in Section 60 with flags, name signs, photos and flowers, representing the families of the Army 3/509th PIR who honor the memories of the nineteen fallen warriors who served in OIF 2006 - 2007.
A run has been organized and sponsored by the 3/509th paratroopers at Fort Richardson, AK on August 24th as they help keep alive the memories of their fallen brothers-in-arms.
SGT Brennan Gibson’s mother is putting together a 1K in Euegene, Oregon where Brennan grew up. God Bless all families that have lost someone. Thank you to all the people that have organized this event and are running/walking in honor of all our heroes. -Mindi, girlfriend of Brennan’s brother
Photos from August 24th will be posted that evening on this site.
ONE MILE FOR EVERY SERVICE MEMBER KILLED IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
Also see RUN FOR THE FALLEN and RUN FOR THE FALLEN BIBS posts on this site.
Print all 19 runners’ bibs for the 3/509th fallen under the RUNNERS BIBS TAB above.
