Run For the Fallen Final Event Day August 24th
KLEIN MEMORIAL PARK NEAR HOUSTON, TEXAS
Judy, David and Courtney Donica placed flowers and flags at Dustin’s site in Texas in remembrance of their son and brother, honoring him on the Final Day of Run For the Fallen. Dustin is loved forever and will not be forgotten by his family and friends. A grateful nation honors this soldier for his service and ultimate sacrifice in Operation Iraqi Freedom, December 28, 2006, Al Anbar, Iraq.
Click on all photos to enlarge.
FORT RICHARDSON, ALASKA
More than 80 3/509th paratroopers at Fort Richardson, AK each ran a mile to remember their fallen. Jimmy Daley ran for Dustin and the run ended at the Spartan Brigade Memorial that was dedicated on May 16, 2008 to honor the 53 members of the Spartan Brigade Killed In Action during their 2006 - 2007 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our thanks to the 3/509th paratroopers for remembering and participating in the Run For the Fallen Final Day Event which honored the 4,139 fallen of OIF & also the military KIA in support of OEF.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXSb6uC4faI
19 paraptroopers representing the 19 fallen of the 3/509th PIR run at Fort Richardson, AK.
Old Glory proudly waves, unfurled as the 80 runners approach the Spartan Memorial in AK.
Flags with photos and names of each of the 19 3/509th fallen were posted at the Spartan Memorial.
The 80 paratrooper runners of the 3/509th and families at Fort Richardson, AK.
“After the run, the runners were told that they could keep their shirts, the runners’ flags and gift cards to Subway. Most of the runners took the items with them when they were leaving. The Able Company Soldiers, however, did not. I was walking back from the run and noticed some movement close to the ground by the entrance to their Company.
I walked up the sidewalk and came upon this:
The runners had each placed the memorial flags carfully into the ground at the front door of Able Company, of which Dustin and eight other fallen 3/509th paratroopers were members.
Maybe that was their way of telling their fallen brothers that although they’re not able to walk through that Able Company door anymore, they’re still very much a part of that amazing Company.” Angie
“What a special group of men!” - Judy Donica
BAGHDAD, IRAQ
“On August 24th, 1,000 American soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq each ran 4.2 miles to remember the almost 4,2000 American militatry members who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In Baghdad, we have a banner with all the names of the fallen on it that is posted in remembrance of each and every fallen service member. I am very grateful for the sacrifices that they have made to our country as we all go through the rough times here in Iraq. Everyone that has passed will never be forgotten by me or any other Service member serving.” - SPC Sage
Dustin’s runner in Baghdad was US Air Force, MSGT Beate Kinzel from Theresa, NY. Here are two e-mails MSGT Kinzel sent to the Donicas:
“Dustin - I didn’t know you, but I picked your name today and ran for you for the Run for the Fallen here in Baghdad. I was just looking down the list and, somehow, your name just jumped out at me. Thanks for keeping me going. We finished! I will always remember you and the sacrifice you made!”
Judy Donica thanked MSGT Kinzel for honoring and running for Dustin in Baghdad and he replied:
“There is no need to thank me, it was my pleasure. I am not joking when I say that Dustin helped me finish that run. It was hot that day and I wanted nothing more then to quit. But how could I quit something so simple knowing that Dustin did not quit?! I am so very sorry for your family’s loss, but I assure you that he will always be on my mind.” Very respectfully, Beate Kinzel, MSGT, USAF
ACROSS THE USA
75 Soldiers at Fort Lewis, Washington run for their fallen of OIF. Photo by D.J. Koepfler
Citizens and military across our beloved nation held runs to remember the fallen of Operation Iraqi Freedom & Operation Enduring Freedom.
10K MEMORIAL RUN IN WASHINGTON, DC ENDING AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Memorial Bridge in Washington, DC leading into Arlington National Cemetery.
Jon Bellona leads the 150 runners from the Pentagon, around the War Memorials of Washington, DC, over the magnificent Memorial Bridge which crosses the Potomac River and onto Memorial Drive at Arlington National Cemetery where the 70-day cross-country run came to a close in Section 60, where 450 fallen of OIF & OEF rest with valor.
Heidi (center with runner’s bib showing the 19 photos and names of the 3/509th PIR fallen & 3 photos and names of the 2/3 fallen Marines, 2008) ran for the 3/509th Battalion and the 2nd Regiment, 3rd Battalion Marines serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Runners come across Memorial Bridge into Virginia.
Runners cross Memorial Drive at ANC to get water after the 10K run.
SGT Andrew Hillstrom of 3/509th PIR, Able Company, wounded in OIF, placed the flag and Dustin’s photo at the Arlington National Cemetery grave of Dustin’s squad leader, SSGT Henry W. Linck.
SPC Peter Shoemaker’s sister was honored to run the 10K, remembering the 3/509th nineteen fallen warriors, their wounded and those who continue to serve. In honor of Peter’s friend, David, she also ran for the 2/3 Marines serving in OIF who had 3 KIA during their 2008 deployment.
SPC Peter Shoemaker’s dad presented thank you posters to Jon Bellona.
Runners and families walk the final symbolic mile into Section 60 together. SPC Shoemaker’s family and the family of fallen SSGT Henry W. Linck who is buried at ANC, carried American flags, stones of remembrance and flowers as they walked for the 19 fallen of the 3/509th PIR. The remembrances were placed at the sites of SSGT Henry W. Linck and SSGT Jamie D. Wilson, Able Company, honoring all 19 fallen warriors of the 3/509th PIR and the 2 fallen of the 1/501st PIR buried at ANC, all fallen from the Spartan Birgade, AK.
Jon Bellona, organizer of Run For the Fallen, places the final flag in Section 60.
Flags and photos were placed for Dustin, Toby Olsen, Micah Gifford, Henry Linck, Jamie Wilson and the 19 fallen of the 3/509th PIR at the graves of Henry and Jamie in Section 60.
Flags, photos, flowers and remembrance stones were placed at the graves in Section 60 in honor of Dustin and the other eighteen fallen of the 3/509th PIR.
The 19 fallen of the 3/509th PIR were honored with flags, photos, flowers and remembrance stones.
The leaving of a stone is to honor the memory of the dead. It is a custom that evolved from an ancient method of marking the graves. It is simply a way of saying, here lie the remains of a person worth remembering, while letting others know that someone did come and remember. Symbolically, it suggests the continuing presence of love and memory which are as strong and enduring as a rock. Clear glass round stones and scarlet red heart-shaped glass stones were laid at the 400 graves of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Section 60.
The Donica Family requested that their names be signed (right side, second from bottom) on the thank you poster presented to Jon Bellona, organizer of Run For the Fallen.
With the final mile flag in place, everyone stood in remembrance of the fallen of OIF & OEF for taps.
The 4,100 mile journey from California to Arlington National Cemetery ended in Section 60 where over 200 runners and family members paid tribute to the fallen warriors on this day of remembrance as taps were played.
(Darlene and Dick, in bright yellow polo shirts with flags and red flowers, photo above the bugler, are the proud parents of David who served with the Marines in Al Anbar Province, Iraq where Dustin was KIA. Their son Steven is in the process of joining the Marines. This most kind and supportive family silk screened all of the Run For the Fallen shirts for the 3/509th paratroopers and their families for the run on August 24th. The logo and names at the top of this post are on the back of each shirt, airborne wings on the front.)
View Final Event Day video, 51 photos and article:
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56972
http://www.stripes.com/08/aug08/fallen/
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50918
http://pickupthepen.com/2008/08/26/run-for-the-fallen-final-days-event/
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/08/25/natpkg.run.for.the.fallen.cnn
See videos under MEMORIAL VIDEO TAB above.
See 3 additional posts on this site regarding Run For the Fallen.
