Just as last year when thunderstorms threatened, Thursday’s afternoon downpours stopped and the sun shone on the Run For The Fallen, paying tribute to those members of the United States military who died during wars over the past two decades.
Driving rain and gusty winds slowed but didn’t deter the nine members of the military team on their journey that started at 7:45 a.m at Cape May Point and arrived at the Ocean City Fishing Club Pier at 5:45 p.m. to remember those who gave their all.
After leaving Cape May Point, the run team, comprised of military members from Joint Base McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst and other locations from across the U.S., wound its way through Cape May City, Lower township, Wildwood Crest, Wildwood, Stone Harbor, Avalon and Sea Isle City, before reaching the OCFC Pier.
There, the nine-member run team, representing ranks from master sergeant to captain, paid tribute in a brief ceremony to CW2 Nicholas P. DiMona II, and his son, SPC Nicholas P. DiMona III, both of whom died in service to their country. The run team visited 81 Hero Markers located throughout Cape May County, including 28 Hero Markers at 16 locations in Ocean City alone.
American Legion Post #524 on West Avenue hosted dinner for the run team Friday, fortifying them for restarting their remembrance journey the next morning.
The runners will complete their 195-mile course when they continue through Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean and Monmouth counties, ending at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, on Sunday.
Now in its 14th year, each mile of the run is dedicated to a New Jersey service member who died in support of the global war on terror over the past 20 years, and their families. The run team stops at each Hero Marker on each mile to make a presentation to waiting family members, friends and comrades. The goal is to create an approximately 195-mile Memorial Trail throughout the state.
