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    Fallen Maine service members honored in 26.2 mile march

    Fallen Maine service members honored in 26.2 mile march

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Sarah Myrick | Staff Sgt. Michael Darling, a human resources sergeant with Joint Force Headquarters...... read more read more

    PORTLAND, ME, UNITED STATES

    10.04.2015

    Story by Spc. Sarah Myrick 

    121st Public Affairs Detachment

    PORTLAND, Maine - Approximately 40 members of the Maine National Guard honored fallen service members by marching in the 26.2 mile Maine Marathon Tribute March Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015.

    The march follows the Maine Marathon race course that starts on Back Bay in Portland and stretches into Yarmouth and back. It started 10 years ago to pay tribute to the families of the fallen.

    Marchers carried the bib number ‘95’ on their rucksacks to honor the number of service members with connections to Maine who have lost their lives in combat since the beginning of the war on terror in 2001.

    “I come back each year to show the families that it’s important that we haven’t forgotten and never will forget and we want to honor them,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Darling a human resources sergeant with Joint Force Headquarters in Augusta. “A little bit of pain for us for a day or two is nothing compared to the pain that they’ve endured.”

    This is the fourth year that Darling has participated in the march and put his own discomfort aside to honor the pain felt by the family members of the fallen that never goes away. He said it shows a lot of heart and dedication to complete the entire 26.2 mile march.

    “I volunteer because I think it’s important to honor our fallen, it really rings true to me we lost four when I was deployed,” said Darling. The Maine Army National Guard soldiers who lost their lives in Darling’s 2004 deployment to Iraq were Master Sgt. Michael Jones, Staff Sgt. Lyn Poulin, Sgt. Thomas Dostie and Sgt. Christopher Gelineau.
    “They have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country I believe and I am forever grateful for that and for that I will always honor them.”

    James Trout, a Gold Star family member has come to the Maine Marathon Tribute March every year for the past four years to honor his grandson Spc. Dustin J. Harris who was killed in action in 2006 in Iraq.

    Trout always meets the marchers in Payson Park and walks the last two miles with them to the finish.

    “Anytime I can come to one of these events to support our troops it means very, very much to me because I know freedom is not free and we cannot forget our fallen,” said Trout. “If it wasn’t for our troops we wouldn’t be standing here doing what we are doing today.”

    Pfc. Danae Dostie, a Military Policewoman of the 488th Military Police Company participated in the Maine Marathon Tribute March for the first time this year. She completed 21 miles of the 26.2, but next year she plans to come back and march the whole thing. She said what kept her going was knowing she was marching for a good cause and for the soldiers that couldn’t come home.

    “It’s very rewarding, when you’re done. You know you did it for all the right reasons and it was for all of our battle buddies,” said Dostie.

    Even though Dostie didn’t march for any specific soldier she said she marched to honor the great sacrifice that the families of the fallen are facing every day.

    “What you’re going through when you’re marching makes you understand what the fallen did and how they suffered and sacrificed,” said Dostie. “We are marching for the families to show that we still care, even though the fallen are not here anymore they are still a part of our team.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.04.2015
    Date Posted: 10.11.2015 13:34
    Story ID: 178675
    Location: PORTLAND, ME, US

    Web Views: 92
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN