FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
Soldiers gathered around an otherwise unnoticed mile marker on the side of a road in Hampton, Virginia, May 1.
There were no jokes or laughter, only a few tears in the crowd.
"Remember what we are here for, who we are here for," said U.S. Army First Sgt. Cassandra Price, 359th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 10th Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) first sergeant. "These men and women made the ultimate sacrifice, and we owe them the utmost respect we can give."
More than 70 U.S. Army Soldiers from the 10th Trans. Btn., 7th Trans. Bde. (Ex.), joined Hampton Roads community members on a three-mile stretch during the Second Annual Run for the Fallen to pay tribute to three Soldiers with the 359th ICTC who were killed in Afghanistan in 2013.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Johnson of Hobe Sound, Florida, was killed in Afghanistan, June 18, 2013, while at the entry control point of Bagram Air Base when he was struck by a mortar attack. Just five weeks later, Sgts. Eric Lawson of Stockbridge, Georgia, and Caryn Nouv of York County, Virginia, were killed when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.
"These three Soldiers died less than a year ago so, it is still very fresh in our minds," said U.S. Army Col. Randal Nelson, 7th Trans. Bde. (Ex.) commander. "A run like this is a very important part of the healing process because it allows us to show how important teamwork, unit pride and family support are to us."
The Soldiers participated in the three-mile portion of the Run for the Fallen, a 236-mile run from Fort Story to Arlington National Cemetery. At each "hero marker," runners read a biographical card for a fallen Service member, placed a flag and paused to salute, paying homage to fallen Service members killed during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
Several Soldiers who were deployed with the three late 359th ICTC Soldiers are still serving within the unit and were honored to run.
"Even though they are not here I still keep them in my heart," said Sgt Diana Webb, 10th Btn., 7th Trans. Bde. (Ex.) command section noncommissioned officer-in-charge. "It means a lot to me that I can still remember them and show my support to their families long after they're gone."
Families and school classes waved American flags to show their support for the fallen Soldiers and the runners at each mile marker.
"The families are a part of the fabric of our organization; they are a part of our DNA," said Nelson. "The support we get from the community is a major part of who we are and this was our opportunity to show our support."