A run to remember; the Port Dawg Memorial Run

Photo By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding | Tie-downs are locked onto a chain with name tapes of fallen air transportation Airmen May 17, 2019, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. A total of 10 tie-downs hung from the chain to represent the air transportation Airmen who have passed in the last year around the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan W. Harding)  

DOVER, DE, UNITED STATES

05.17.2019

Story by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Harding 

436th Airlift Wing

Members from the 436th Aerial Port Squadron participated in the annual “Port Dawg Memorial Run” May 17, 2019.
Dover Port Dawgs honored the 10 fallen air transportation Airmen from 2018 and 2019 during the annual “Port Dawg Memorial Run.” This run, which is the largest memorial run in the United States Air Force, is also hosted by other aerial ports from around the world during Transportation Week.
“The Port Dawg heritage is founded on pride and family,” said Lt. Col Lawrence Smith, 436th aerial port squadron commander. “That closeness brings all of us together to recognize the importance and the value of who we are.”
Dover APS members held a ceremony prior to the run, in which Airmen hooked devices onto a chain with the name tapes of the 10 fallen APS members.
“One of our primary functions is to tie down equipment to the aircraft,” said Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Anderson, 436th APS superintendent. “These devices are something that every Port Dawg has handled. It symbolizes what we do as aerial port Airmen.”
After the opening ceremony, the Port Dawgs fell into formation, had a short safety brief and ran the 5K.
Event organizer Master Sgt. Randy Walgren, 436th APS Air Transportation Standardization and Evaluations Program manager, said, “The most important part about this event is that everybody matters, no matter what rank or AFSC, we all care …When we come into the military, we lose our family back home and we join a family here. No matter if we lose a member in Dover or Charleston or Travis, we are connected through brotherhood.”

• Date Taken: 05.17.2019
• Date Posted: 05.20.2019 15:21
• Story ID: 323135
• Location: DOVER, DE, US