Multi-National Corps Iraq Public Affairs

Story by Melanie Trollinger

CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION MAREZ, MOSUL, Iraq— 130th Engineer Brigade Soldiers answered the call to remember the victims of Sept. 11 during a 9/11 Remembrance Run at Contingency Operating Site, Marez, Mosul, Iraq.

The 9/11 Remembrance Run, sponsored by COS Marez Morale, Welfare and Recreation saw the largest turn-out for a run event, 319 runners, at the base in four years, MWR officials said.

Trophies, medals and Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift certificates were given to the top runners in three male and female age groups, as well as the top male and female teams.

The 130th, displaying unity and esprit-de-corps, not only participated in the four-mile run, but took top honors in many of the event's run categories. Winning five first place awards, the engineers were motivated to show their support for the event.

Realizing the importance of remembering the tragic event and countless lives lost eight years ago, the Soldiers did not run for trophies. They ran to pay tribute to the victims who died in the Twin Towers, at the Pentagon and on Flight 93.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Leeanna Davis, a human resources technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 130th Eng. Bde. volunteered to help set up the event and register participants.

"As I ran, I reflected back on that day, where I was, what I was doing. I think it's important we do something to remember Sept. 11 and honor those who died," Davis said.

Davis finished in first place for her age group. Her team also finished first.

Davis's teammate, Cpt. Jacqueline Grabin, the brigade's assistant S-6, said she was happy she participated in the 9/11 Remembrance Run because it was for a good cause.

Grabin, like so many others, will never forget where she was that day.

"I had just finished [Advanced Individual Training] and had been home for a week or so," she said. "I woke up that morning and heard the radio, but I didn't know what they were talking about. I turned on the TV and just stood there for a long time. My jaw just dropped."

Grabin helped Davis register the runners and she said was happy to see so many of the 130th Soldiers participate.

The overall winner of the 9/11 Remembrance Run was another Engineer Soldier. 1st Lt. Bradley Miller, 591st Eng. Co., 84th Eng. Bn., 130th Eng. Bde., came in first place with a time of 24 minutes, 50 seconds on the four-mile run.

Miller, a Project Officer with the Mosul Reconstruction Cell, said his entire section participated in the run.

"Sept. 11, 2001 changed the lives of many people. Every day we wake up in Iraq or Afghanistan, we are in some ways remembering the sober realities of 9/11 and, hopefully, our efforts are helping to stop the type of people who perpetrated those attacks. This run was a great way to build cohesion and boost morale for the units in Mosul that are making those efforts," Miller said.

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