Christine Bishofberger ran in honor of Spc. Michelle Witmer in the Potomac River Run Marathon 2006.  
Here is her experience in her own words:

On Thursday, June 1, I presented the marathon medal to the mother and brother of my fallen solider.

It was an emotional, but wonderful and inspiring 30 minutes. I told them about the inquiries during the run (they
loved to hear how others wanted to know about their daughter), how I picked her as my hero (she had friends in my
church), and what she had done to inspire me to give of myself to honor her (doing something I did not have
courage to do—go to war).

We talked about her being profiled on Good Morning America on Memorial Day and how Michelle has impacted my
neighborhood as my neighbors told my husband of the TV segment so he could tape it for me. They know her name.

They shared their favorite photos and then, beyond my expectations, handed me Michelle’s helmet to hold. I don’t
have words to describe the emotions that ran through me as I did. It is heavy, and that was surprising, but it had a
sacred component to it. I told them I was honored and privileged to be permitted to even touch something so
precious to them. I had no right. I just had no right to do so.

Then, as a gift to me, they handed me a Time-Life book called “Last Letters Home” in which Michelle is one of 14
soldiers profiled. They lost more than I can imagine, but gave me a gift.

I promised to keep her name alive in my little corner of the world. For that they cried, hugged and thanked me.
And then I left…never to be the same again.