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thedrifter
10-16-08, 07:45 AM
Marines run for comrades lost in conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan
By Charmain Z. Brackett | Correspondent
Thursday, October 16, 2008

The fourth annual Marine Tribute Run will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday at Fort Gordon's Barton Field.

"Everything our service does is based on tradition. This is something we started that's important," sad Gunnery Sgt. Jared Bean, staff noncommissioned officer for Fort Gordon's Marine Corps Detachment and the coordinator of the run.

The run pays tribute to Marines and Navy corpsmen who have died in Iraq or Afghanistan. Marine and Navy personnel at Fort Gordon will run 1,090 laps, or about 3,300 miles, in memory of those who have died. Each lap around Barton Field's track is about three miles.

Runners will be on the track 24 hours a day until the tribute run ends with a ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7.

"They will average about 15 laps," Gunnery Sgt. Bean said of the Marines on post and in the Marine Reserve unit in Augusta who will participate. "Some will run more; some will run less."

During the event, photographs and names of the dead will be projected on a screen. Some of the Marines in the detachment will run for people they served with, he said.

Though most of the event is for runners, one walking lap is set up for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.

Gunnery Sgt. Bean said the run receives a lot of attention from retirees and civilians, some of whom have no affiliation with the military.

"They stop by to talk to the Marines," he said. The final lap on Nov. 7 should be special.

"We are inviting everybody to come out. In years past, we've had a huge formation running. Hopefully, it will be the same this year," he said.

From the Thursday, October 16, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle

Ellie

thedrifter
10-16-08, 03:31 PM
3,600 mile Marine tribute run kicks off Sunday
Charmain Z. Brackett Correspondent

Four years ago, the Marine Corps Detachment led by Gunnery Sgt. James Meek took to Barton Field to remember fallen comrades in the first Marine Tribute Run.

The event lasted 15 days with about 100 Marines running 600 laps in tribute to those who'd lost their lives in the fight against terrorism.

On Oct. 19, the Marines plus Navy Corpsmen will take to the field once again to run for nearly 1,100 members of their services in a 21-day event. The run begins at 9 a.m.

"We run for every fallen Marine," said Gunnery Sgt. Jared Bean, who is coordinating the event since Meek's retirement. Meek, he said, will take the field again. In past years, Meek has run for Lance Cpl. William White of Brooklyn, N.Y., who died at the age of 24 on March 29, 2003. Meek had to make the casualty call to White's Family, and that planted a seed for the run.

This year's event will feature at least 160 Marines from the detachment at Fort Gordon as well as the Marine Corps Reserves Unit in Augusta, Bean said.

"All other services are invited out," he said.

At least one Marine will be on the track at all times during the 24 hour a day event. They will average 15 laps each. Each lap around Barton Field is about three miles.

"We will put up about 3,600 miles," he said.

As runners are on the field, the photographs and names of those who've died in support of the war on terror will be projected on a screen.

Bean said the event has received a lot of support from the communities outside Fort Gordon's gates. Retirees and former Marines as well as civilians with no military affiliations often stop by during the event to talk to Marines and show their support, he said.

The run is scheduled to end at 3 p.m., Nov. 7 with a brief ceremony.

In previous events, the final lap has included a formation with a large number of service members from different branches. He hopes that will be the case again this year.

Ellie