Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Caya | Senior Master Sgt. Steve Brown, Chief Master Sgt. Clint Ronan, Master Sgt. Hillary...... read more read more
Subscribe
NIAGARA FALLS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. - Members of the 914th Airlift Wing participated in the KIA Memorial Road March at a local park Aug. 22, 2015.
Wing members marched a 10K, approximately six miles, up and down hills at Chestnut Ridge State Park, Orchard Park, New York carrying canned goods to be donated to local veteran organizations; all this in memory of Western New York veterans killed during the Global War on Terror.
The KIA Memorial Road March started when a local soldier, U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Jason Jaskula, wanted to find a way to honor the memory of his battle buddy, Buffalo firefighter and U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Christopher Dill. Dill was killed in action while deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 4, 2005.
U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Nikki Slaughter, 914th Airlift Wing Sexual Assault Response coordinator, said that she participated in this march not only because she knows Jaskula, but she wanted to be a part of something that helps Western New York veterans.
"This road march is a way to help our local veterans who struggle to find resources in this community," said Slaughter. "The canned goods will help many homeless vets in the area, and the funds raised will help the local chapter of the Gold Star Mothers as well as the Buffalo Veterans Court."
In addition to assisting veterans, this road march had an aspect present in the career of every service member - physical fitness.
Another 914th Airlift Wing member, Drug Demand Reduction Specialist Senior Master Sgt. Steve Brown said, "I participated in this event because I was asked to. However, with that said, I am glad I did. I like to challenge myself, and this event did that, but while having fun."
Although the event was designed with the military in mind, the march was open to everyone, current and retired military, first responders and civilians. Since the first ruck march in 2012, Jaskula has grown the event for other people to attend.
According to the KIA Memorial Road March website, the primary goal of the march is to honor the New York State service members KIA in Iraq and Afghanistan, during OEF/OIF/OND. The entire 10K route is lined with signs, each with the name of one of those service members.
The secondary goal of the march is to help local veterans in need. Funds raised at the march has helped support the Buffalo Veterans Court and the local chapter of the Gold Star Mothers. The canned goods and non-perishable food, used as weight by marchers, have been donated to the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 77 and Miligan's Pantry at Buffalo State College.
| Date Taken: | 08.22.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.28.2015 15:50 |
| Story ID: | 174595 |
| Location: | NIAGARA FALLS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Service members march in memory of KIA, by SMSgt Andrew Caya, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT