By TIM KELLY
The 11th annual Run for the Fallen once again originated near the tip of Cape May on Wednesday and proceeded North through the county, including a dozen stops in Ocean City on Thursday.
Run for the Fallen is one of the more unique and interactive events to honor and recognize members of the United States military who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The event is designed to honor servicemen and women from New Jersey who gave their lives in war or in the line of duty.
A team of active duty military members run at one mile intervals to recognize the fallen heroes.
Markers are placed at each interval, where the runners and support caravan stop briefly for an individual ceremony.
From its southerly origins in Cape May, the run winds its way north to Holmdel, Monmouth County, at the site of the Gold Star Family Monument at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
In all, 279 fallen servicemen and women are being honored over 196 miles.
Frequently, friends and family members and people who wish to say thanks gather at the markers.
That was the case at the stop on the Boardwalk near 15th Street, where family members and friends of fallen heroes, father and son Nicholas DiMona II and Nicholas DiMona III, were joined by a contingent of Ocean City officials, residents and visitors.
DiMona II was 32 at the time of his death in 2004, and his son was just 20 when he gave his life on March 30. Both were residents of Medford Lakes, Burlington County.
Among those present representing the city were Council Vice President Tony Wilson and Councilmen Antwan McClellan, Bob Barr and Michael DeVlieger.
Wilson said he was moved by the ceremonies and was particularly struck by the sight of veterans of the Vietnam War, now in their 70s, embracing. He called it “pretty moving.”
The military members who took part in the ceremony were “incredibly respectful” in their reverence toward the fallen and in their interactions with the family members and friends, DeVlieger said. “It was really beautiful,” he noted.
Relatives and friends on hand included mother and grandmother of the fallen, Elma DiMona, Michael Saunders, Susan Ebbitt, Carl and Barbara Obermeier, (uncle and aunt of the heroes) Kris Saunders, Tracey Feighery and Alex Feighery, a member of the run team and the best friend of Nicholas DiMona III.
The Ocean City stops and those honored were:
- Captain Maria Ortez and Sgt. Hector L. Ortez Jr.: Ocean Drive near Corson’s Inlet Bridge
- S/Sgt. Ingles DosReis: 55th and Central
- Spc. Michael Franklin: 46th and Central
- Cpl. Terry Ordonez: 39th and Central
- L/Cpl. Jon T. Hicks, Jr.: 29th and Wesley
- SSgt. Aaron Nelson Brown: 21st and Wesley
- CW2 Nicholas P. DiMona II and Spc. Nicholas P. DiMona III: Boardwalk at 15th
- Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Sutherland and the 9/11 Pentagon Heroes: Veterans Memorial Park
- Spc. Ronald H. Wildrick, World War II Heroes: VFW Post 6650, 15th and Bay
- Sgt. Keith T. Buzinski: 25th and West
- PO2 Daniel C. Dill: 36th and West
- Sgt. Alessandro “Sandrino” Plutino, U.S. Marine Heroes – Beirut : 46th and West
