'Run for the Fallen' coming to Bonners Ferry
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| May 5, 2011 |
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At the
mile marker commemorating Sergeant
Joshua Kirk: Peg Rogers, Donna
Culbertson, Tracy Bartlett, Anthony
Collins, unknown, Amy Bryant, Bernadette
Kirk-Bonner, Johnna Sohner, Liz Fulton,
Jennifer Solt, Mark Collins, Joyce Rose,
and in front, Jessica Tingley and Adam
Arthur. |
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Last year, more than 8,300 runners in 45 states
and two countries ran over 49,000 miles in honor
of U.S. service members who gave their lives in
service to their country in Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
On August 20 of this year, "Run for the Fallen"
makes its Idaho debut in Bonners Ferry to honor
51 service members who paid the ultimate
sacrifice with ties to this great state. Though
in the early stages of planning, 14 Idaho Gold
Star families who've lost a loved one will be
participating.
The goal, which should easily be doubled, is to
have 250 people participating in the run, to
honor both Idaho's Gold Star families and the
heroes they lost.
"Run for the Fallen" began in the summer of
2008, when a small group of civilians ran 4,000
mile across America. Their mission was to run
one mile for every service member killed in
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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1LT Mike
Cleary |
The inspiration for the event was First
Lieutenant Michael J. Cleary, Dallas,
Pennsylvania, who was killed in action in Ad
Duluiyah, Iraq, just ten days before his
scheduled return home.
His best friend and college roommate, Jon
Bellona, founded the "Run for the Fallen" in his
memory, with the one goal of bringing people
together to honor, remember and pay tribute to
loved ones, family and friends who had given
their lives in Iraq.
That run began on Flag Day 2008 in Fort Irwin,
California, and ended 77 days later in Arlington
National Cemetery.
The team marked each mile, posting an American
flag and a personalize postcard in memory of
each fallen soldier.
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| Sergeant
Joshua Kirk |
In 2010, a local family, led by mother
Bernadette Kirk-Bonner, were invited to participate in
a "Run for the Fallen" event in Maine, where
Joshua Kirk was born July 19, 1979. The family
moved to Bonners Ferry in 1983, and Josh grew up
here before returning to the state of his birth
to attend college. After studying for about two
years, he made the decision to quit school and
join the Army.
"He was in his mid-20s by then," his sister,
Jessica Tingley, said, "so older than most
recruits, but the Army was definitely good for
him."
He enlisted from South Portland, Maine, and
attained the rank of Sergeant, serving with the
3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade
Combat Team, of the storied 4th Infantry
Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
On October 3, 2009, SGT Kirk, 30, died of wounds
suffered when enemy forces attacked his outpost
with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and
artillery. He died beside seven comrades-in-arms
in that single, 12-hour action, all of whom had
volunteered to serve following the September 11,
2001, attacks, in a month that claimed the lives
of 15 4th Division soldiers ... the worst month
in Division history since the Vietnam war.
"Joshua really and truly cared about his fellow
soldiers," Jessica said. "They were his extended
family and the main reason he reenlisted when
his time was up."
"They were helping make a difference when they
were taken from us," said Major Dan Chandler of
the eight who died October 3.
One of the men involved in that battle, Blake
Jones, had earlier become one of the men who
looked up to Sergeant Kirk. Shortly before they
deployed, Kirk talked to Blake's Mom and Dad,
and assurred them that their son would never be
more than a few feet away from him, and he
promised them that he would get their son home
safe.
Blake was wounded in that fight, and awarded the
Bronze Star for his valor. But he came home.
"I would follow that man to hell if he thought
it was a good thing to do," Blake said in
eulogizing his sergeant. "He earned the
nickname, 'Combat Kirk' because whenever it was
time to do business, he suited up and acted like
he could beat Rambo at anything."
Last year, in honor of Sergeant Joshua J. Kirk,
the son of one Vietnam veteran and the nephew of
another, the organizer of Maine's "Run for the
Fallen," John Mixon, asked Bernadette, a cheery
face familiar at the checkout line to all of us
who buy groceries in Bonners Ferry, if it would
be okay to honor her son in their run.
Not only was it okay, but the family was moved
by the request, and they flew to Maine to take
part.
"It was a wonderful tribute to so many
soldiers," Jessica said. "It was equally
wonderful to meet and share our loss with other
families. For example, Josh was killed at COP
(combat outpost) Keating, and COP Keating was
named after Benjamin Keating, who was born and
raised not two hours away from where Josh was
born. We got to meet Keating's family, and it
was amazing how many similarities there were
between our families ... having other families
to relate to really is a huge comfort, and a
huge part of the coping and healing process."
Though he enlisted in South Portland, Maine, and
this community wasn't privileged with the news
of his service by the Hometown News Release
program of the military, from his elistment to
his graduation to his death on the field of
battle, Sergeant Joshua Kirk was and is a
Bonners Ferry, Idaho, hero.
At 7:45 a.m. Saturday, August 20, 2011, at
Veteran's Park ... beside a memorial on the
grounds of the library, yet to be etched with
more names of those of our neighbors who've
fallen in service to our nation, and beneath the
billowing flag they died defending, runners will
gather.
Afterwards, at the Boundary County Fairgrounds,
there will be a rememberance service, and a
chance for reflection, for support.
Organizers who've suffered the loss of a loved
one hope only to be joined by others who've
lost.
You can read more and help by visiting
www.runforthefallenidaho.org, or by visiting
their Facebook page by
clicking here. |
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Questions or comments?
Click here
to email!
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