Reaching out at the Rock IV: Fallen but not forgotten

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of articles about the efforts of Team Little Rock Members to volunteer in the local community.

As they all awaited in almost complete silence, besides mere chatting among one another, the once scorching sun has begun to show mercy to the anxious and excited crowd. Some people held American flags that created a patriotic thoroughfare leading to the Arkansas Capitol. After a few brief moments, whispers and shouts of, "here they come!" spread through the crowd like wildfire.

Around the corner came a group of runners led by three persons holding the U.S flag, the Arkansas state flag and an Honor to Remember flag. Cheers rang out while each runner passed through the American flags lining the street. And as each individual reached the steps of the capitol, though exhausted, a since of triumph was displayed on their faces.

Why were they running? Why was this run yielding the emotions that bring tears and smiles at the same time?

They were running to never forget.

They were running to remember.

March 17 and 18 marked the first ever Arkansas Run for the Fallen. This run was orchestrated by Senior Master Sgt. Bubba Beason, first sergeant of the 19th Logistic Readiness Squadron. He started the run four years ago when he was stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

"This is basically a run to honor all of Arkansas' fallen service members. Two weeks after these people die, the only people who remember is their family, which is an injustice," he said.

The run was a non-profit event and not military related. Runners varied from all branches of the service, policemen, fire fighters, retirees and civilians.

"It took a lot of time and persistence to organize a run like this. There's a lot people who will tell you no, because it's easier, and there's no work involved. There's a lot of people who asked me, 'why are you doing this, you don't have to do this,' but it's in my blood. I had to do this," he said.

Beason and those involved with the organization are raising money for two causes: the Permanent Arkansas Fallen Heroes' Memorial and the American Gold-Star Mothers' National Monument. These causes have already raised over $5000. "It's not about the money, it's about the memory," said Beason.

This run has given family members of the fallen a method to heal and a way to celebrate tragic lost. Many times Beason said he has received emails from gold-star mothers expressing how much the run means to their family. Beason explained that a gold-star mother is the mother of a fallen service member, whereas a blue-star mother is the mother of a service member who's still alive.

"A gold-star sister once sent me a quote that stated: one person with passion can accomplish more than 40 people with just an interest. So, if you've got passion for something, it's pretty easy. I've got passion for this. To me, this is a self-reward to make sure that the families realize that we're still trying to remember them for what they did. I would hope that there would be someone out there to keep my memory alive," he said.

At every mile that's run, the runners stopped to place a flag and a biography card down in memory of each fallen hero. This first year in Arkansas, there were 21 families that Beason had been contacted by. The families previously picked their mile to be there when the runners approach it and read the biography card of their loved one.

There were 42 runners who started out in Ozark, Ark., and ran together in teams of three. One runner held the U.S. flag, one held the Arkansas flag and the other held an Honor to Remember flag. There were 124 flags placed in the ground within those two days.

"I tell the runners that there's going to be a lot of miles where no family is there, but understand that just because there's no family there, it doesn't stop you from remembering them. That mile you run is for that hero. Read the bio card, and then when you finish reading, place the flag in the ground, take a knee, say a few words, salute, or do whatever it is you want to do and then press on to the next mile," Beason said.

Once the runners reached the last six miles, anyone was free to join them to the finish line. The runners finished on the steps of the state capitol, where a ceremony was held, and the names of the Arkansas fallen were emotionally read. Beason said, with a slightly softer voice and teary eyes, what was special to him was having four gold-star moms fly down from New Jersey to participate in Arkansas' first run.

"That means... that means a lot to me, knowing what I did for them in New Jersey. When I see gold-star moms, I tell them, it's a noble club to be in, but nobody wants to be in that club," said Beason.

Along with the gold-star moms attending, Enza Jacobowitz, a gold-star sister attended the ceremony. Not only did she attend, but she ran in memory of her younger brother, Cpl. Luigi Marciante Jr., who was killed September 2007 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq at the age of twenty-five.

"I run because it gives me a moment to be alone with him. It feels like he's with me. When I run, we talk to each other. I think about our childhood," she said with sweat on her face from running and red eyes that accompanied tears streaming down her face.

She said if she could speak for her brother, she knows he'd say thank you to the runners and Beason for starting something so great.

"I never want my brother to be forgotten. Absolutely nothing will keep me from running with Louies, (Louies is what Jacobowitz calls her brother)," she said.

Since Beason started the run in New Jersey four years ago, it has continued there and has started in other places. By his influences, the commander he had in New Jersey, now stationed at Travis Air Force Base, Cali., is starting the run there this September. Beason said it's important to plant a seed.

Beason inspired the runners by telling them, "when you're running, it's going to suck. Running up hills is going to suck, and if it rains or gets hot or cold, it's going to suck. But, your pain is temporary. The family's pain is for the rest of their lives. Think about that. You're running because the fallen no longer can."

If there was one message Beason could leave with those who ran, watched, participated or just read about the run, he said it would be two simple words.

"Never forget."