Run for the Fallen heroes named
On August 20, people from around the region
and across the nation will
gather at 7:45 a.m. at the Veteran's Memorial at
the Boundary County Library, and after a brief
prayer, a reading of the names of the fallen
soldiers being honored and a 21 gun salute,
they'll run or walk all or part of a
44-kilometer route, going along the Kootenai
River to Crossport, then traveling back to the
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge and then back
to town.At each kilometer, a sign will be posted bearing a fallen soldier's picture and biography, each of whom is from or who has ties to Idaho, and each of whom laid down their life in service to the United States while serving in our nation's latest wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This will be the first Run For the Fallen to take place in Idaho.
The first Run for the Fallen took place in 2008 when a group of dedicated runners ran from Fort Irwin, California, to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., running one mile for every soldier, sailor, Marine and Airman who died in Operations Enduring Freedom through New Dawn to that date ... they who've fallen in service to our country since the attacks on our nation on September 11, 2001.
The goal of those first runners was to have all 50 states participate in a run or walk of remembrance during the same weekend in August. Last year, 7,600 runners in 45 states covered a distance of 44,347 miles. This year, Idaho adds another state to the list, and more miles to the final tally. You can learn more about the national effort at www.runforthefallen.org.
Run for the Fallen Idaho is a tribute run, inspired by that national run, and the culmination of an effort by two Bonners Ferry women who found comfort and solace in the camaraderie of the families of the fallen who found strength in one another.
Bernadette Kirk-Bonner and Jessica Tingley are the mother and sister of Army Sergeant Joshua Kirk, who laid down his life October 3, 2009, in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, fighting for this nation's cause in Operation Enduring Freedom, one of eight soldiers in his unit to die that day. Both women traveled to Maine last year, where Josh was born before the family moved to Bonners Ferry and where he returned to attend college until deciding to volunteer in the nation's Armed Forces, where they participated in their first Run for the Fallen.
On short notice, with little to no budget, they began building interest in a Run for the Fallen here, and their efforts have steadily gained notice, garnering the support of local officials, local veterans, some of them serving in Iraq right now, and the support of the families of those who remained at home, tending to the day-to-day challenges of life on their own, bearing the added burden of not knowing for certain if that member of their family would ever come home again, or come home whole.
Those who serve are by no means the only ones who pay a price ... so, too, do those who love them and see them off.
On August 20, Boundary County will Run for the Fallen, and no doubt be joined by the families of the fallen from across the country. Here are the Fallen to whom this first Idaho run is dedicated:
| Kilometer | Name of the Fallen | Date of Death |
| 1 | Lieutenant Commander Ron Vauk | September 11, 2001 |
| 2 | Major Gregory Stone | March 22, 2003 |
| 3 | Corporal Richard Carl | May 9, 2003 |
| 4 | Specialist Robert Benson | November 5, 2003 |
| 5 | Private First Class Jerrick Petty | December 10, 2003 |
| 6 | Private First Class Cleston Raney | March 31, 2004 |
| 7 | Private First Class Christopher Reed | July 10, 2004 |
| 8 | Specialist Brandon Titus | August 17, 2004 |
| 9 | Captain Alan Rowe | September 3, 2004 |
| 10 | Captain Luke Wullenwaber | November 16, 2004 |
| 11 | Staff Sergeant Darren Van Komen | December 21, 2004 |
| 12 | Kelly Morris | March 30, 2005 |
| 13 | Staff Sergeant John Ogburn III | May 22, 2005 |
| 14 | Specialist Carrie French | June 5, 2005 |
| 15 | Lance Corporal Dustin Birch | June 9, 2005 |
| 16 | Sergeant Ivan Alacorn | November 17, 2005 |
| 17 | Private First Class Jacob Alcott | April 22, 2006 |
| 18 | Sergeant Jeremy King | August 24, 2006 |
| 19 | Specialist James "Dougie" Bridges | November 4, 2006 |
| 20 | Specialist Jame Riekena | January 14, 2007 |
| 21 | Sergeant James Holtom | February 8, 2007 |
| 22 | Private First Class Raymond Werner | February 8, 2007 |
| 23 | Sergeant Ross Clevenger | February 8, 2007 |
| 24 | Sergeant Emerson Brand | March 15, 2007 |
| 25 | Petty Officer Curtis R. Hall | April 6, 2007 |
| 26 | Private First Class John Borbonus | April 12, 2007 |
| 27 | Staff Sergeant Coby Schwab | May 3, 2007 |
| 28 | Corporal Kelly B. Grothe | May 3, 2007 |
| 29 | Sergeant Blake Stephens | May 8, 2007 |
| 30 | Major Bradly Conner | May 9, 2007 |
| 31 | Private First Class Charles Hester | May 26, 2007 |
| 32 | Private Shane M. Stimson | June 23, 2007 |
| 33 | Specialist Adam Davis | July 23, 2007 |
| 34 | Sergeant Nick Gummersall | August 6, 2007 |
| 35 | Specialist Vincent Kamka | October 4, 2007 |
| 36 | Major Stuart Adam Wolfer | April 6, 2008 |
| 37 | Sergeant Michael Lilly | April 7, 2008 |
| 38 | Corporal Jessica A. Ellis | May 11, 2008 |
| 39 | Specialist Randy Neff | July 22, 2009 |
| 40 | Sergeant Joshua J. Kirk | October 3, 2009 |
| 41 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mathew Heffelfinger | November 8, 2009 |
| 42 | Lance Corporal Cody Roberts | August 31, 2010 |
Those who participate in Idaho's Run for the Fallen don't have to run the entire course, you can run as far or little as you wish. A rally point will be set up at the end of the course so everyone who particpates can finish as a group. There is no fee to participate, and you don't have to run to take part ... volunteers are much needed!
To learn more about Idaho's first Run for the Fallen, visit http://www.runforthefallenidaho.org. For a map of the route, click here. To take part ... as a runner, a family member or a volunteer, click here. To follow all the latest developments, visit The Run For The Fallen Facebook page, and be sure to "like" the page to keep up with all the latest news.