On Sunday, Day 72, the Run For The Fallen runners arrived crossing Memorial Bridge at the end of the last 10K, sweaty and smiling carrying American flags to the applause and shouts of appreciation from hundreds of supporters and families.

Back before Day 62, August 15th, 2008, the day Scott, the four men who were killed with him and 44 other brave soldiers honored that day, I was emailing with Shauna Sweet.  Shauna does Media Relations for the Run and I wanted to get more information about the schedule of that day.  I was thinking we would make the drive (nearly 7 hours round trip) to just east of Love Virginia on the Blue Ridge Parkway to welcome and thank the runners as they passed and placed the flag and note-card for Scott.  Several things happened to make that impossible and so I asked Shauna to pass a request to Jon Bellona that he inscribe  “Warrior Poet” on Scott’s memorial card with the flag.  She passed my note on to Jon and he said he would do that.

So as we were greeting the runners, Sunday, I sought out Jon as I had a nice thank you speech ready for when we shook hands and when I introduced myself to him as Scott’s dad he immediately said, “Warrior Poet!”.  I was so stunned by his remembering my son that I was speechless and overcome with emotion.  The words I had planned were gone and I could only clap him on the shoulder (he was way to sweaty to hug).  But that moment and the look on his face and in his eye of understanding and compassion is one of the great memories I have of this past year and I will never forget it.  I can imagine that he had many moments like this on the trek east with other Gold Star Family members.  A few moments later as Jon addressed the crowd he said, “America is a beautiful country and it is full of kind, loving and caring people.”

In conceiving this run I think Jon had a rare moment of inspiration.  To undertake it and in accomplishing it he gave so many the opportunity to share with him the honor of knowing, loving and remembering those Fallen that preserve our nation.  I did not know his best friend, 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary, but I feel like I know him now through my short time with Jon.  The great thing is, and I am certain of this,  Jon created that same feeling in the thousands of Americans he came to know this summer.  What he has done to honor Mike’s memory and the memory of the others fallen is nothing short of perfect.

Thank you Jon Bellona!  What a privilege it was to be part of your great run!

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Some photos I made of that perfect morning…

Run For The Fallen crosses Memorial Bridge

Jon Bellona leads the runners on the last leg into Arlington National Cemetery

Looking South towards the Custis Lee Mansion, the Run ends...

Jon Bellona addresses the crowd of over 200 runners and families

Section 60 Families present "Thank You" cards to Jon Bellona and the Run for the Fallen

The Runners, Families and supporters walk the last mile to Section 60

ANC Superintendent, John Metzler welcomes and congratulates Jon Bellona

Jon Bellona places the flag he carried across the country from California to Washington, DC

Runners and Families place flags and flowers on the graves of the Fallen

Links to other blogs or video

We Remember

Stars and Stripes Video