Step One - Click on the Lists of Fallen Heroes link in the left column of this website and select the military branch you want your Fallen Hero to have served in.
Step Two - Select your Fallen Hero. We ask that you check the date of death and not attempt to initiate contact before a couple of months have gone by. We want to allow the family an appropriate time to grieve before presenting a request to honor their loved one. Also, make sure the Fallen Hero has not already been chosen by another runner. You can check this by reviewing the Heroes Honored link to the left. If you would like to meet the mourning family in person, keep location in mind. A drive within your own state or region is much easier to accomplish than a flight across America. Location is listed next to name.
Step Three - Once you have your Fallen Hero's name, usually a quick search on Yahoo or Google will bring up his or her family's contact information. Sometimes the family has created websites honoring the loved one. Other times, articles from local newspapers come up with the name of the parent or spouse included in the article. Once the name of the family member is found, a quick search on www.dexonline.com or www.switchboard.com of the name and town should produce the family's address or phone number fairly quickly. If not, contact us.
Step Four - Using the sample letter posted on this web site as a guide for ideas, write a letter or place a phone call to the family formerly requesting their permission to honor their loved one with your Medal of Honor.
Step Five - Inform us of the name of the Fallen Hero you have chosen, the marathon you will be running and the response of the family. This way we can try to avoid numerous runners contacting the same family.
Step Six - After the run has been completed and the Medal of Honor given or sent to the family, send us a confirmation e-mail. The subject line of this email should be Confirmation. In the confirmation email please include: the name and rank of the Fallen Hero, how you want your name to appear on the website, and the name and date of the marathon. This will ensure that all Heroes Honored will be posted correctly on the website.
Option Two - We Initiate Contact
We understand that some people will feel uncomfortable contacting people they do not know, especially in a situation involving so many emotions. This is not a problem at all and should not be a barrier for you to express your gratitude.
Step One - Contact us and ask us to select a Fallen Hero for you to honor. Be sure to give us any preferences you may have (i.e., branch of the military, rank, gender, geographical location). We will attempt to contact the family of a Fallen Hero with your preferences. We will keep in contact with you via e-mail and let you know of the progress we have made and what steps you should take next.
Step Two - Write a Letter or a Poem of Gratitude expressing your feelings to the family of the Fallen Hero. Or, the family may request that you call them. We will inform you of the appropriate action at this point.
Step Three - After the run has been completed and the Medal of Honor given or sent to the family, send us a confirmation e-mail. In the confirmation e-mail please include: the name and rank of the Fallen Hero, how you want your name to appear on the website, and the name and date of the marathon. Also, the subject line of this email should be Confirmation. This will ensure that all Heroes Honored will be posted correctly on the website.
Option Three - Honor a Fallen Hero You Already Know
World War II? Vietnam? Panama? Greneda or the First Gulf War?
You already know the name of your Fallen Hero. Perhaps he was your grandfather, your father, your son, or your best friend. The servicemember may have left us long ago, but his or her sacrifice is just as important to our freedom today as it was the day they left us. Tell us your situation and we will gladly work with you. Anything you need from us, we will try to do for you.
Option Four - Can't run a marathon?
Spread the word to those who can run about who we are and what we do. Volunteer for us at expos. Contact us with any ideas you might have about how you can help.
