July 25, 2018
Page 5B
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By Diane Glldewell
news@mymcr.nef
Run for the Fallen is
crossing the U.S. for 120
days, covering 6,000 miles,
to honor members of the
U.S. military who died as a
result of their military ser-
vice. There is a core of eight
runners who are covering
the entire route. Along the
way they are joined by oth-
ers, sometimes many and
sometimes just a few, who
want to honor those who
have fallen.
On Thursda) July 12 the
route came through Mon-
roe County down Highway
23/87 until it reached the
intersection with Iuliette
Road where it was to stop
for the night. The group's
travel vehicles took them
from there to the Rock
Springs Church on Iuliette
Road where members of
the Vietnam Veterans of
America Middle Georgia
Chapter 946 waited to
welcome them, join in their
nightly memorial service
and serve them a dinner of
grilled hamburgers, baked
beans, sweet tea and a
daunting choice of home-
made desserts. Gold Star
families, that is, those who
have lost a family member
in military service, were
invited to join the gather-
ing at the end of the day
as well as to participate at
any point along the mute.
Several families accepted
the invitation to join the
program and meal at Rock
Springs Church, sharing
theft grief and loss and
their appreciation to the
runners for their tribute
and remembrance.
July 12 was the 97th day
of the 120-day Run for the
Fallen. It covered just shy
of 62 miles, coming south
from urban Union City to
rural Juliette. It was a hot,
oppressively humid day
typical of a Georgia
luly
and not made for cross-
country nmning. But the
Run for the Fallen runners
indicated they will con-
sider it one of the best days
of their journey because
they'll remember the warm
reception they received
from the Vietnam Veterans
over the warm weather.
They said it was the first
Vietnam Veterans Chapter
to host them on their route.
"We welcome the oppor-
tunity to meet folks sup-
porting fallen comrades,"
said Vietnam Veterans
Chapter 946 president
Claude Curlee. "We ap-
preciate what you're doing
and have undying gratitude
for keeping their memories
alive"
George Lutz organized
Run for the Fallen. He said
he was a typical American.
His father and grandfather
had served in the military,
but he didn't serve. Then
one day in 2003, his son
told him he had joined the
Army. "Are you crazy?"
he asked. "Dad, I think I
can make a difference;' his
23-year-old son answered,
and Lutz feat like he was old
enough to make his own
decisions. But then one day
he learned his son wouldn't
be coming home and it
changed his perspective.
"I became a different
kind of American. I had a
feeling of appreciation and
felt that what was done was
not done in vain" said Lutz.
"I got the biggest flagpole
and put it in my yard and
thought everyone should
be the same type of patriot'i
He said 10 years ago he
established an organization
to raise public awareness
and bring public aware-
ness to those who, like
himself before the loss of
his son, take American
freedom for granted. The
Run for the Fallen grew out
of that organization. The
group knows the best way
to remember the fallen is
to bring attention to their
names individually.
They collected the names
ofaU those who died from
military service since the
bombing of the USS Cole
on Oct. 12, 2000. Their
large database includes over
20,000 service members
who died while serving or
as a result of serving. When
organized by dates of death,
there were approximately
6,000 unique dates. The
Run for the Fallen covers
6,000 miles and at each
mile stops to call out the
names of those who died
on a unique date. At some
Some of the Run for the Fallen team members and some of those who welcomed them in Juliette pose in front of the team
bus before the runners leave to rest up for their next day. (Photo courtesy of Claude Cudee)
miles, there are many
names; at other miles just a
few. As of the run through
Monroe County on July
12, Run for the Fallen had
remembered over 17,000
service members who died
on 4,453 different dates.
The Run for the Fallen
team carries a placard with
the dates and names and
plants a set of flags at each
mile if possible, speaking
with any Gold Star families
that are present at the stops.
The runners put in 8-10
hour days, stopping about
every 10 minutes for 30-90
seconds, a little longer if a
Gold Star family is present.
They carry four full-size
flags: the U.S. flag, the state
flag, an honor and sacrifice
flag representing first re-
sponders and an honor and
remember flag represent-
ing every service member
who died.
On July 12, Run for the
Fallen remembered 107
service members who died
on 62 different days, begin-
ning with Dec. 21, 2013
and continuing into April
2014. Lutz said it was one
of the lowest days. He said
that most of the run on July
12 was on narrow roads
with a lot of road noise.
Families listening to the
live feed at runforthefallen.
org may not have been able
to hear all of the names;
so he was glad for a quiet
place to read the names
again and a group of people
to stand in for the families,
thanks to the Vietnam Vet-
erans Chapter 946. He also
invited anyone present who
had lost a family member
in military service to share
their name, too.
"It's about everyone who
has given their lives" said
Lutz. "If you have some-
Participants who joined Run for the Fallen for its days of running through Georgia sit
together at the Memorial service following their run through Monroe County on July 12.
(Photo/Diane Glidewell)
one in your heart who
you would like to include
in this moment of honor,
please do."
One couple had brought
a picture of their son who
died in Imq in 2006. Others
remembered a brother, a
god-brother, a husband, an
uncle.
"To speak a name out
loud in a group of those
who understand has more
power than you realize"
said Lutz. He said he had
received an email the pre-
ceding night from a mother
who had lost a 37-year-old
son to PTSD that resulted
from his military service.
Because her son had not
died on active duty, she
said, "I don't know what
I am, but I am grieving"
Lutz said she is a Gold
Star family member by his
definition.
Bill Horne, treasurer
of Vietnam Veterans of
America Middle Georgia
Chapter 946, presented
Run for the Fallen a check
for $200 to help with
expenses. Curlee said the
mission of Run for the
Four runners read the names of those honored during the
July 12 run.
Fallen fits well with their
goal, "Never again will
one generation of Vet-
erans abandon another"
The local chapter meets
on the second Tuesday of
each month at 6:30 p.m. at
Rock Springs Church, 1278
luliette Road.
The Run for the F tllen
group spent the night in
Forsyth and than returned
at 7 a.m. to the marker
where they had stopped
on Highway 87/23 the
night before to resume
their mission, with plans
to reach the Senior Center
in Jeffersonville the next
evening. The route through
Georgia ends in Savan-
nah on July 17, thengoes
north up the coast through
South Carolina and North
Carolina before turning
into Virginia where it ends
at Arlington National
Cemetery on Aug. 5.
Lutz said it took two-and
a-half years to plan Run
for the Fallen, and it won't
happen again. He said he
is glad that there have been
less names and dates to call
as they got closer to the
present.
The Monroe County Sheriff's will include a hot lunch served safety at grade crossings and tions is Friday, luly 27. Space Teens must bring either their
Office in cooperation with the in the GPSTC cafeteria andimportant vehicle maintenance is limited. Checks should be learner's permit or driver's
Georgia Public Safety Training logo t-shirt. Check-in will be skills, delivered in person to Monroe license, and all campers must
Center (GPSTC) will hold its between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Anyone wishing to attend" County Sheriff's Office, 145 L. wear tennis shoes.
1 lth annual Teen Safe Driving The one-day camp will teach must complete an application Cary Bittick Drive, Forsyth, Ga For more information,
Camp at GPSTC from 9 a.m. to new drivers defensive driving and return it with payment to 31029 or by mail to Monroecontact either Sgt. Richard
4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11. tips, the dangers of distracted the Monroe County Sheriff's County Sheriff's Office, P.O. Coughenour at 478-262-1125
The camp, which is for teens or impaired driving, skid and Office either in person or by Box 276, Forsyth, Ga 31029, or Dep. Marilynne Fitts at 478-
ages 15-17, will cost $20 and off-road recovery techniques, marl. The deadline for applica- Attn: Safe Driving Camp. 957-2811.
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