Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
Fort Campbell, KY. – A cold and windy Saturday morning didn’t discourage close to 3,000 runners and walkers who turned out for the 2013 Run for the Fallen at Fort Campbell. The 6th annual commemorative walk/run with a 3.6 mile route took place at the Division Parade Field on post.
Participants, which included many 101st Soldiers and civilians, were urged to either run or walk in memory of fallen Soldiers and were asked to go to a website before the event and print off their running bib with a fallen Soldiers name on it.
Run for the fallen began in 2008 when a team of runners ran across America from Fort Irwin, California to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. It was one mile for every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
For ten weeks, team members marked each mile with an American flag and a card in remembrance of each service member. Each year since the run across America, runners from around the world have joined the Run for the Fallen in remembering those who have fallen.
Brigadier General Mark R. Stammer, Senior Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, spoke in a ceremony before the run/walk. “It’s all about our Gold Star families today. It always will be, for years and decades to come. This will be a day and an event and the cap off of a week where we can remember. The sacrifices of your loved ones will not be forgotten and neither will you,” said Stammer.