Some runners may wish to honor a Hero who served in a specific military branch, came from a specific state of residence, or was a part of a specific race or sex. Other runners will not care about these attributes and simply honoring any Hero will suffice. We will attempt to satisfy the personal wishes of the runner choosing to honor the Fallen Hero.
If I decide to run in honor of a Fallen Hero, will I have to contact his or her family?
Read the Honor a Fallen Hero link. Contact information can be gathered by our organization or by the runner independently. We have a link to the updated list of Fallen Heroes on our website. Usually, a search of the Fallen Hero's name and hometown will result in the family's contact information. Also, a sample letter can be found in the left column of our website to give the runner an outline of ideas and words to say in a letter, or in a phone call, to the mourning family.
We understand very well that contacting people you do not know about a situation that contains so many emotions can be a difficult process. If a runner does not want to initiate contact with the family in mourning, we understand completely. We will make contact and inform them of your desire to honor their lost loved one.
Will I meet the family of the Fallen Hero?
We would like you to. However, we do not require it. If a meeting with the family to say thank you in person is acceptable to the family and also to the runner, then our organization will attempt to aid in uniting these people. If a meeting is not feasible in the near future, all we ask is a letter or a poem expressing your gratitude to accompany the Medal of Honor being sent to the family.
Can I run an event other than a marathon and still honor a fallen hero through your organization?
There is something special about the marathon distance run. Most Americans can run a 5k or a 10k race with little or no training, with little or no sacrifice. By virtue of design, the marathon requires from those who attempt to finish it a level of pain and sacrifice most other races do not demand. While we appreciate any American wishing to honor the family of a Fallen Hero, we will only be affiliated with marathon distance events. If you are out of shape and fear the distance, there are a handful of marathons that will allow participants to power-walk the race. We ask that you locate these races. Whether you are running fast, walking and running periodically, or power-walking -- the marathon is very difficult and the medal representing that achievement is special.
I have never run a marathon, but I want to honor a family by doing this. Are there any training programs you recommend?
Yes, www.jeffgalloway.com is an excellent site and if you follow the advice there, you will be a marathoner in no time. Take it slow and train smarter before you train harder.
