Marine detachment honors fallen comrades
The “Tribute to the Fallen” run began Oct. 28 and will continue 24 hours a day until Nov. 10, the Marine Corps' birthday.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/7CBCDBB4B29C0DD8852570A800639DE2?opendocument
Submitted by: Fort Gordon Public Affairs
Story Identification #: 200510281484
Story by - Charmain Z. Brackett
FORT GORDON, Ga. (Oct. 28, 2005) -- Lance Cpl. William W. White of Brooklyn, N.Y., was only 24 years old when he died March 29, 2003 in Iraq.
"I had to make the casualty call," said Gunnery Sgt. James Meek, who will run three miles in honor of White during a 15-day memorial run at Barton Field. The run will cover more than 1,800 miles.
The “Tribute to the Fallen” run began Oct. 28 and will continue 24 hours a day until Nov. 10, the Marine Corps' birthday.
The final lap is scheduled to begin about 6 a.m. that morning.
There are only a handful of Marines in the detachment stationed here, but they have garnered the support of former Marines and members of the Marine Corps Reserve unit in the community.
Meek said he expects about 100 people to run.
Each runner will run three-miles in honor of the more than 600 Marines and Naval corpsman attached to the Marines who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A presentation with photographs and information on the fallen will be shown during the run.
On the final leg of the event, the entire company will run, a Marine will play "Taps," and there will be a 21-gun salute.
"Marines take care of their own," said Meek. "We also stand on the tradition of Marines, our forefathers, who gave their lives."
Meek said that other former Marines who are living in the area and interested in showing their support may participate.
"A lot of soldiers are former Marines," he said.
Meek said they will send certificates to the families of the fallen to let them know what took place.