Aug. 20 Run for the Fallen an event to honor soldiers

The first Run For the Fallen in Idaho to take place will be held Saturday, Aug. 20.

The event will begin with a meeting at 7:45 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial at Boundary County Library.

A reading of the names of 44 of Idaho’s fallen soldiers, a prayer and a 21-gun salute will begin then the walking, running or biking of the 44 kilometers will ensue.

The route is 44 kilometers with each one dedicated to a soldier with ties to Idaho. The trail will follow the Kootenai River to Crossport, then back through Kootenai Wildlife Refuge and on to town where the run ends at Boundary County Fairgrounds. There will be a closing ceremony and a free barbecue. 

At each kilometer there will be a photo and biography of the fallen soldier  who served in the Iraq, Afghanistan, wars as well as one who died during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The goal of those first runners was to have all 50 states participate in a run or walk of remembrance during the same weekend in August.

Bernadette Kirk-Bonner and Jessica Tingley of Bonners Ferry are the mother and sister of Army Sergeant Joshua Kirk, who was killed  Oct. 3, 2009, in Kamdesh, Afghanistan.

 He was  one of eight soldiers in his unit to die that day.

Kirk-Bonner and Tingley traveled to Maine last year where they participated in their first Run for the Fallen. Kirk was born there before the family moved to Bonners Ferry.  He also attended college in Maine, until deciding to volunteer in the nation's Armed Forces.

Last year, 7,600 runners in 45 states covered a distance of 44,347 miles.

This year, Idaho adds another state and more miles to the list. To learn more about the national effort and to read the biographies of the following 44 fallen heroes visit  http://www.runforthefallenidaho.org.

Kilometer 1, Lt. Com. Ronald James Vauk, Nampa, died Sept. 11, 2001;  Km. 2, Maj. Gregory Stone, Boise, died March 22, 2003; Km.  3, Cpl. Richard Carl, King Hill, died May 9, 2003;  Km. 4, Spc. Robert Benson, Coeur d’ Alene, died Nov., 5, 2003;  Km. 5, Pfc. Jerrick Petty, Idaho Falls, died Dec. 10, 2003; Km. 6, Pfc. Cleston Raney, Rupert, died March 31, 2004;  Km.  7, Pfc. Christopher Reed, Craigmont, died July 10, 2004; Km. 8, Spc. Brandon Titus, Boise, died Aug. 17, 2004; Km.  9, Capt. Alan Rowe, Fairfiled, died Sept. 3, 2004; Km. 10, Capt. Luke Wullenwaber, Lewiston, died Nov. 16, 2004; Km. 11, Staff Sgt. Darren Van Komen, Lewiston, died Dec. 21, 2004; Km. 12, Cpl. Kelly Morris, Boise, died March 30, 2005; Km. 13,  Staff Sgt. John Ogburn III, Fruitland, died May 22, 2005; Km. 14, Spc. Carrie French, Caldwell, died June 5, 2005; Km. 15, Lance Cpl. Dustin Birch, St. Anthony, died June 9, 2005; Km. 16, Sgt. Ivan Alacorn, Jerome, died Nov. 17, 2005; Km. 17, Pfc. Jacob Alcott, Idaho Falls, died April 22, 2006; Km. 18 Sgt. Jeremy King, Meridian, died Aug. 24, 2006;  Km. 19, Spc. James “Doug” Bridges, Buhl, died Nov. 4, 2006; Km. 20, Spc. James Riekena, Post Falls,  died Jan. 14, 2007; Km. 21, Sgt. James Holtom, Rexburg, died Feb. 8, 2007; Km. 22 Pfc. Raymond Werner, Boise, died Feb. 8 2007; Km. 23, Sgt. Ross Clevenger, Givens Hot Springs, died Feb. 8, 2007; Km. 24, Sgt. Emerson Brand, Rigby, died March 15, 2007; Km. 25, Petty Officer Curtis R. Hall, Burley, died April 6, 2007; Km. 26, Pfc. John Borbonus, Boise, died April 12, 2007; Km. 27, Staff Sgt. Coby Schwab,  Hayden Lake, died May 3, 2007; Km. 28, Cpl. Kelly B. Grothe, Hayden Lake, died May 3, 2007; Km. 29, Sgt. Blake Stephens, Pocatello, died May 8, 2007; Km. 30, Maj. Bradly Connor, Coeur d’ Alene, died May 9, 2007; Km. 31, Pfc. Charles Hester, Cataldo,  died May 26, 2007; Km. 32, Pvt. Shane m. Stinson, Boise, died June 23, 2007; Km. 33, Spc. Adam Davis, Twin Falls, died July 23, 2007; Km. 34, Sgt. Nick Gummersall, Pocatello, died Aug. 6, 2007; Km. 35, Spc. Vincent Kamka, Idaho Falls, died Oct. 4, 2007; Km. 26, Maj. Stuart Adam Wolfer, Emmett, died April 6, 2008; Km. 37 Sgt. Michael Lilly, Boise, died April 6, 2008; Km. 38, Cpl. Jessica A. Ellis, Burley, died May 11, 2008; Km. 39, Spc. Randy Neff, Blackfoot, died July 22, 2009; Km. 40,  Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, Bonners Ferry, died Oct. 3, 2009; Km. 41, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mathew Heffelfinger,  Twin Falls, died Nov. 8, 2009; Km. 42, Lance Cpl. Cody Roberts, Boise, died Aug. 31, 2010;  Km. 43, Sgt. Nate Byers,  Coeur d’ Alene, died July 7, 2011; Km. 44, Spc. Nicholas “Nick” Newby, Coeur d’ Alene, died July 7, 2011.