12th annual Run For The Fallen honors military members who died, honors Gold Star families
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A group of runners is on their way from Hampton Roads to Arlington, Virginia, as the 12th annual Run For The Fallen remembers military members who died and honors Gold Star families.
The team, including 14 military and civilian runners set out from Fort Story in Virginia Beach early Thursday morning.
They will run in shifts over four days to complete the 250-mile mission to honor 808 military members who have died since the war on terror began in 2000.
“This opportunity to call these names out loud is a very reverent and respectful one,” said Gold Star father George Lutz.
The group stops at hero markers posted along the way that have designated names.
“One of the things that I recognized that was important to so many families was that their loved one not be forgotten,” Lutz said.
After losing his son, Corporal George “Tony” Lutz in Iraq in 2005, he set out to raise awareness. He couldn’t be in Hampton Roads for the run this year but he’s watching it all on Facebook Live from California.
“My youngest son is getting married on Tony’s wedding anniversary so, it’s the same day. So, that’s special and I was listening at 4 this morning when Tony’s name was called out at mile marker 7 on Shore Drive,” he said.
The runners will each run about 15 miles a day for a total of around 60 miles each over the four day event.
You can follow their route and scheduled honor stops.
Lutz encourages all who wish to join them or watch on Facebook Live to just take a moment to remember.
“You might not have lost anybody but you realize that these families raised these heroes and gave them for us so that we could have our tomorrows.”
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