HOLMDEL — In an apolitical reflection of remembrance a team of runners will embark on a 140 mile run to honor every New Jersey service member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

“Run for the Fallen” will kick off on Sat., Sept. 25 from the Cape May Lighthouse and will finish at the NJ Vietnam Memorial in Holmdel the following day. The runners will mark every mile of their journey with an American flag and a personalized biographical card in honor of every fallen service member.

The dedication markers will create a 140-mile memorial trail through New Jersey. The runners are comprised of active duty and reserve Airmen and Soldiers from McGuire Air Force Base and Ft Dix.
The New Jersey run was started in 2009 by Master Sergeant Bubba G. V. Beason, of McGuire Air Force Base.
He is currently deployed to Afghanistan serving as First Sergeant for the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW), Combined Air Power Transition Force but he has committed to returning to this state in September to lead the run once more.

Last year he was chosen as the 2009 USO Service member of the Year and the 2009 Chevy Everyday American Hero because of his involvement in these events.

This year, he has been nominated for the Spirit of Hope Award, which is presented annually to a select few men, and women of the United States armed forces, active duty and civilian, whose patriotism and service reflect that of Bob Hope. The Spirit of Hope Awards will be presented in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2010.

The memorial run has aligned itself in supporting the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Fund. For more information and to find out how to participate please visit the NJ Run for the Fallen website at www.njrunforthefallen.org.