Important information provided by A. J. Herran, National Chaplain, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Ladies Auxiliary

On the weekend of August 21/22, 2010, “Run for the Fallen” is encouraging anyone, wherever they are, to go out and run/walk one mile for a fallen service member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The goal is to again have all 50 states participate. Last year, there were over 5,000 participants in 35 states and four countries, running a combined total of over 31,000 miles. Help us to continue to honor and remember our service members, bringing people and communities together. Together, let us Run for the Fallen.

In Colorado, this event will take place quietly on Saturday morning (21Aug) at 8AM at Rogers Grove – Longmont, CO.

In Oregon, this event will be hosted by the Blue Star mothers and will take place in Portland on 21AUG10.

In Tampa, FL – Tampa Area Marine Parents Assoc., Inc. – 3rd Annual Run for the Fallen Event (5K / 1 mile Run & Walk). This FREE event will be held on Sunday, August 22nd, at E.G. Simmons Park in Ruskin. Pre-registration is requested.

In Charleston, IL – Vivian White – Aug. 21st a Run for the Fallen event to honor all Illinois military personnel who have lost their lives in Iraq or Afghanistan. The run will be held in Charleston, Illinois at the Charleston High School track. It will be an all-day event (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.) People can come out to the track anytime during the day and walk/run. They can walk for a particular soldier or we can assign them a soldier.

In Iowa – see www.iowaremembrancerun.org  In Elk Horn see the Elk Horn American Legion.

In Missouri – Lake of the Ozarks – Trisha Creach – We will be honoring all of our soldiers and hope to get at least 85 people to walk one mile to pay special tribute to our Missouri men and women killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The event will begin at 8 AM at the Osage Beach City Park on Highway 54.

In Oklahoma – Lawton, Oklahoma – Survivor Outreach Services – We are located outside the gates of Fort Sill and encourage interested parties to run/walk with us at Elmer Thomas Park on 3rd and Ferris in Lawton on Saturday, Aug. 21. Folks can contact either myself, Debra Leffler at 580-442-4282 or Kathy at 580-442-4329.

In Wisconsin – Milwaukee, WI – Woods National Cemetery – Judith Singer – www.beingtherereachingout.org – Gold Star Families and supporters will be running again in Wisconsin. Last year, 15 Wisconsin Gold Star Families along with friends and supporters ran over a total of 200 miles.
 
This is just some of the activities going on that you may wish to be part of in serving our Gold Star Families of the Fallen.   As we all know, it takes the loss of a soldier to bring a community together, and break its heart.  Please do what you can this weekend to heal these broken hearts.