By DOUG OTTO
The 15th annual New Jersey Run for the Fallen will take place in Cape May County on Thursday, Sept. 21.
Ocean City’s Morvay-Miley-Cruice American Legion Post 524 has been an integral part of this event since its inception in 2009.
The New Jersey Run for the Fallen is an organization of military personnel who come together each year to run 190-plus miles throughout New Jersey over four days to pay tribute to their fallen comrades and Gold Star Families.
The mission of the runners and support crew is clear and simple: “To run one mile for every New Jersey service member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.”
Each mile run is dedicated to a fallen New Jersey hero, with run team members stopping after each mile at a “Hero Marker” to present a flag and personalized biographical card to waiting family members and friends.
An initial Remembrance Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Naval Air Station Museum, 500 Forrestal Road, Cape May Airport, at 4:45 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner inside the Museum for Gold Star Families and the run team.
Then on Thursday, runners will depart Sunset Beach (502 Sunset Boulevard, Cape May Point) at 7:45 a.m. and run through Cape May Point, Cape May City, Lower Township, Wildwood Crest, Wildwood, Stone Harbor/Avalon, Sea Isle City and Ocean City.
After visiting the 85 Hero Markers located throughout Cape May County, a Run Team & Gold Star Family Dinner will be provided by Ocean City American Legion Post 524 at their post headquarters building, located at 4560 West Ave.
The public is invited to come out to one of the markers 15 minutes prior to the arrival of the run team to show appreciation for the sacrifices the military members and their families have made.
For more information, contact Jack Hagan Post 524 Adjutant at (609) 304-3088.
For a complete list of the Hero Markers throughout Cape May County, visit www.njrun.org
