Photo By Staff Sgt. Brandon Shuman | Steel Airmen with the 32nd Aerial Port Squadron stand in honor of fallen Port Dawgs at...... read more read more
Steel Airmen assigned to the 32nd Aerial Port Squadron held a memorial run at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania, June 7. The 2026 Port Dawg Memorial Run honors the lives and service of Aerial Port Airmen who died over the past year. They are: Senior Airman Aeron Olson, Senior Airman Mario Ceja, Staff Sgt. Gregory Peterson and Tech. Sgt. Jasmine Allen.
In 2011 the air transportation community experienced a tragic loss when one Airman, Tech. Sgt. Curtis E. Eccleston was murdered. In 2013 the Port Dawgs at Kadena Air Base held a memorial run in honor of Eccleston which soon became an annual event held around the world and across the entire career field. The 32nd APS holds the Port Dawg Memorial Run every May.
“From my perspective the Port Dawg Memorial Run is a way to show our respect to people who came before us and unfortunately have passed on,” said Staff Sgt. Noah T. Bloom, 32 APS Air Transportation Specialist. “It’s just our way of doing something every year to really extend our gratitude towards them.”
This was Bloom’s fifth memorial run and his first run as the guidon bearer who was responsible for setting the pace for the unit.
“I was asked earlier today,” said Bloom. “I might have run a little too hard but I get excited for these things.”
While not every Airman may have served alongside each other, they all share the same mission and fuel the same fight.
Senior Airman Trystan R. Alava, 32nd APS ramp service specialist, said when he thinks of the Port Dawg Memorial Run, he may not know the face belonging to every name but for the ones that he does, it's about taking those moments to remember who they were.
Senior Master Sgt. Jonathan J. Hogan, 32nd APS Readiness and Resources flight chief shares that sentiment as the 32nd APS added two names to the list of those read around the world in the past five years. Most recently Capt. Timothy Shaughnessy, a logistics material management specialist in 2023 and Master Sgt. Shawn E. Kane who passed away in 2021.
“The Port Dawg Memorial Run carries a lot of meaning to me,” said Hogan. “They weren’t just Airmen, they were active members of the community. The run is a good way to remember those individuals and also keep in mind that tomorrow is not guaranteed.”
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.26.2026 14:21 |
| Story ID: | 567307 |
| Location: | CORAOPOLIS, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 6 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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