By Doug Otto
Ocean City’s American Legion Post 524 will oversee eleven memorial stops of the 2016 Run for the Fallen, as it winds its way through town on Thursday September 22
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The New Jersey Run for the Fallen is an organization of military runners who travel throughout New Jersey in memory of service members killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. At the end of each mile stands a memorial marker where runners pause to salute service members’ lives and the sacrifices made by their families.
The event officially begins at the Cape May Lighthouse early Thursday morning. The Ocean City portion of this four-day, state-wide event begins at Corson’s Inlet at 3:26 PM. The final stop of the day is American Legion Post 524 at 5:30 PM.
Coordinating Ocean City’s efforts is the American Legion Post 524 Committee, chaired by Jack Hagan.
“Although they visibly run one mile to honor each fallen hero from current conflicts, participants also remember all New Jersey service members who have laid down their lives for the cause of freedom,” said Hagan. “New Jersey has given 16,408 sons and daughters since World War I.”
Following the local portion of the run, participants will continue northward on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday (September 23rd) the runners will travel from Somers Point to Long Beach Island; Saturday (September 24th) they will run from Long Beach Island to Toms River; and on Sunday (September 25th) the trail starts in Point Pleasant and concludes at the Vietnam Memorial in Holmdel.
The Core Run Team consists of dedicated military personnel from Joint Base McGuire, who run a 190-mile course over the 4 days. Along the way, they pay tribute to their fallen comrades and Gold Star Families. Runners come from all branches of the military and gather "on their own time and on their own dime".
Ocean City area residents are invited to take part in the Hero Marker ceremonies to support the runners and to reflect on the sacrifices made by these service members and their families. Here are locations and times of ceremonies:
Hero Markers… At the end of each mile is a laminated Hero Marker. Each is assigned to one of New Jersey’s military heroes.
