Honoring son with Run for Fallen

Sgt. Josh Kirk’s mother and sister will honor he and other Idaho soldiers who have died while serving their country in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Bernadette Kirk-Bonner and her daughter, Jessica Tingley, are organizing the first Run for the Fallen event  in Idaho; it will take place on Aug. 20 in Bonners Ferry.

Kirk’s family consulted with Brigadier General Alan C. Gayhart, assistant adjutant general for the Idaho National Guard, about setting up a run in Idaho after participating in Run for the Fallen Maine in 2010.

“He (Gayhart) helped us put lists together so that we can honor them in the same in way in our state,” Kirk-Bonner said.

The runs held in a particular state honor soldiers born or raised in that state and who have died in the line of duty.

Kirk, who was born in Maine, grew up in Bonners Ferry after moving here with his family.

He was 30 when he died on Oct. 3, 2009, when he and seven other soldiers from Fort Carson, Colo., came under fire by as many as 300 insurgents at two remote outposts near in Nuristan province in Afganistan.

The Nuristan battle marked the deadliest fighting seen by Fort Carson soldiers since Vietnam and the largest loss of life for the post in single battle in Iraq or Afghanistan. 

Also killed were Spec. Michael P. Scusa, 22, of Villas, N.J.; Spec. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, of Kincheloe, Mich.; Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 22, of Reno, Nev.; Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25, of Savanna, Ga., Spec. Stephen L. Mace, 21, of Lovettsville, Va., Sgt, Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz., and Joshua M. Hardt, 24, of Applegate, Calif.

Kirk was posthumously awarded two Bronze Star medals, a Purple Heart and an Army Commendation Medal with Valor award.

After returning from the Maine run, Kirk’s mother and sister began compiling a list of soldiers born, raised or stationed in Idaho. Their goal: To start a Run for the Fallen Idaho organization.

This year’s event presents the fourth anniversary of Run for the Fallen.

Kirk-Bonner and Tingley’s list includes the names of 51 deceased service member with ties to Idaho.

“Although we are still in the early planning stages, we are definitely looking for community support and volunteers so that we can make our first effort a memorable one,” said Tingley.

The women need help creating and printing mile markers to honor each soldier.

Last year, more than 8,300 runners in 45 states and two countries ran more than 49,000 miles in honor of U.S. service members who gave their lives in service to their country in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Organizers also need people help on the day of the run, including assisting with a barbecue after the run and T-shirt distribution, said co-organizer  Rhonda Vogl.

The event will take place at 7:45 a.m  at Veteran's Park near a memorial at Boundary County Library.

Anyone wishing to help make Idaho’s first Run for the Fallen a success or who would like to pledge to do a mile, can contact  Bernadette Kirk-Bonner at runforthefallenidaho@hotmail.com, Jessica Tingley rspswrl@hotmail.com or 627-3675 , Glory Rossbacher at glory.volunteer@gmail.com or 267-7686, or  Rhonda Vogl at rhonda.vogl@dhs.gov or at 304-0397 and 267-2734.