Join hundreds as the community pays tribute to the heroes of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who have lost their lives at the Fifth Annual Run For The Fallen set for Sunday, August 26, in Riverview.
On Sunday, August 26, the Tampa Area Marine Parents Association/T.A.M.P.A. will host the Fifth Annual Run For The Fallen. The run will take place at the Winthrop Barn, located at 11349 Bloomingdale Ave. in Riverview, following an opening ceremony set to begin at 9 a.m. Runners can choose a 10K Tough Track, a 5 K Walk/Run and a 1K Walk/Run.
As this is the 5th year of this moving event, a few events have been added. From Monday, August 20-Sunday, August 26, the Florida Fallen Memorial, a display of white crosses with the names, dates and pictures of each of the state’s fallen heroes from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom will be on display in front of the Winthrop Barn Theatre. The memorial is on loan to the event by Mr. Jim Vanderbleek of St. Petersburg.
On Saturday, August 25, there will be a Vendor Fair/Packet pick up and Pasta Dinner from 5-9 p.m. at the Winthrop Barn. Saturday will conclude with a Candlelight vigil ceremony complete with music, poetry and speakers at 7:30 p.m.
Cyd Deathe, whose son was wounded in Iraq, is founder, president and executive director of T.A.M.P.A. Deathe said, “This event allows the organization to honor its promise to Gold Star Families that we will never let their loved ones or their sacrifices be forgotten.” Deathe explained that Florida has lost 351 military men and women in the two operations. “Each participant will receive a bib with the name, picture and information of a specific fallen hero which they will represent.
The event is free. Deathe said, “We want to bring out everyone to be involved and to give those who want to participate, a way to do so.”
The Run for the Fallen began as a cross country memorial during the summer of 2008. Runners ran relay style from Painted Rocks, California to Arlington National Cemetery. Runners marked each mile of the 4,000 mile race with an American flag and sign card in honor of every fallen service member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. For more information, please visit www.runforthefallen.org.
To sign up for run, please visit Active.com. For more information, please call 965-2682 or email R4F@USMCFamilySupport.org
