Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
On Friday, Feb. 11, a team of more than 20 marathon-trained athletes will embark on a 170-mile journey from Tallahassee to Jacksonville to honor every Florida service member who died as a result of serving during the War on Terror and in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. The Florida “Run for the Fallen” will start in Leon County at 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning, with relay runners stopping at each “Hero Marker” spaced approximately one mile apart along the way to Jacksonville. When the runners stop at each marker, they will give individual tribute to waiting Gold Star family members, friends and comrades. Each tribute will include a short ceremony.
The running team will pass through Monticello late Friday morning. The following “Hero Marker” stops in Monticello are expected to have family members of the hero present, along with members of American Legion Post 49:
11:24 a.m. tribute at Marker 24 (125 miles east of the corner of Hwy. 90 and Desersey Rd) to honor GySgt Michael J. Clark, LT Bruce Leland Clark, LCpl Christophe L. Clark, LCpl Philip P. Clark, SSgt Daniel J. Clay, COL Patrick Louis Cloutier.
11:35 a.m. tribute at Marker 25 (3891 W. Washington St.) to honor PFC Christopher R. Cobb, PO1 Marlin Clyde Cochran, SGT Keith A. Coe, SPC Anthony Lee Coleman II, SPC Justin D. Coleman, PFC Matthew C. Colin, SPC Juan Ramon Collado.
11:46 a.m. tribute at Marker 26 (2960 W. Washington St.) to honor PO2 Wayne Lee Collins, LT Steven Combs Jr., SGT John Conant, SGT Kenneth Conde Jr., MSG George Milo Congden, HN Matthew Conte, SPC Ryan J. Cook, PO1 Martha Crystal Cook, SPL John Russell Cooper, SSG Julian M. Cooper.
These and additional markers through Jefferson County are indicated by a bright orange dot on the roadway.
Runners will proceed through Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Suwannee, Columbia, Baker, Nassau and Duval counties to finish at the Veterans Memorial Wall at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13.
For more information about routes, markers and ways to support Florida’s part in this national event, visit the FL Run for the Fallen website at www.FloridaRunForTheFallen.org or www.HonorandRemember.org.