Stryker Soldiers remember fallen with Memorial Day run

Photo By Master Sgt. Thomas Duval | Chief Warrant Officer Steven Warnsing sprints to the finish line during a 5K Memorial Day run at Forward Operating Base Lagman in southern Afghanistan May 29.  

ZABUL PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

05.29.2011

Story by Spc. Thomas Duval  

1st Brigade, 11th Airborne Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LAGMAN, Afghanistan – Service members from all branches of the military gathered at Forward Operating Base Lagman in southern Afghanistan Sunday to pay tribute to all the men and women who have paid the ultimate price for freedom, during a Memorial run here.

The distance each service member ran depended on the individual runner, with the longest being a 10-kilometers.

“We just wanted to have an informal event to remember all our brothers and sisters who have gone before and paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 William “Chip” Steele, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division targeting officer. “The run has allowed us to come together as a team and honor and remember those who we have lost.”

“We will never be able to fully repay those who have gone before us but we hope that by remembering their sacrifices and paying tribute to all the men and women we can help keep their legacy alive,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Allen, senior fire support non-commissioned officer for 1/25 SBCT.

While many people will gather this day to remember and pay tribute to the men and women of the armed forces, the observance took on a greater level of importance for the 1/25 SBCT soldiers, who lost three soldiers to an improvised explosive device earlier this month.

“They paid such a large price and we just want to try to do our part in thanking them and their families for their dedication,” Allen said.

• Date Taken: 05.29.2011
• Date Posted: 05.29.2011 09:57
• Story ID: 71285
• Location: ZABUL PROVINCE, AF