The March for the Fallen is held annually to honor those service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. The event consists of the 28-mile Path to Honor, the 18-mile Hawk Watch Challenge, a 5-kilometer run and a 10-kilometer run.
Pennsylvania Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Tony Carrelli, spoke at the opening ceremony and thanked the crowd for memorializing the sacrifice these service members made.
“Thank you for your participation: paying tribute to the 39 fallen warriors from the Pennsylvania National Guard who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Today we gather to remember these fathers, sons, brothers, uncles and grandfathers, and to honor all who have died in the service to their country,” said Carrelli.
Gold Star family members of some of the fallen from the Pennsylvania National Guard and other services were in attendance and were recognized. The crowd of civilians and service members applauded the sacrifices made by these individuals.
The course took place over challenging hilly terrain; participants could compete in the military heavy division, with a 35-lb rucksack, and military uniform, or in a personal challenge category where they could walk, run or march some or part of the course.
In the midst of his 28-mile march, Zach Biers, an ROTC cadet at Shippensburg University, commented on the reason he chose to march. “It is important to do this march and give tribute to those who gave their lives for our country,” Biers said.
Several months of planning went into the event said Maj. Frank Junkin, the event coordinator.
“This is the fifth year of the March of the Fallen, and we have had a record number of volunteers across two continents, all in to honor the commonwealth’s fallen Soldiers,” said Junkin. “The contributions of over 150 volunteers and 20 different organizations have proven the state’s dedication to this memorial,” continued Junkin.
A mirror event was held in Kosovo spearheaded by deployed Pennsylvania Guard members.