“Together in Gratitude” trolley ride for last quarter mile
By C. Ayn Douglass
Staff Columnist
RYE -
Inspired by her participation three years ago in the
Ogunquit to Portland Run for the Fallen in Maine, Hampton Falls resident Julie
Hurrie discovered there was not a similar event in New Hampshire and decided to
spearhead the effort to honor the memory of military men and women who have
fallen in combat on foreign soil since 9/11.
With no military background of her own, the mother of
four-year-old twins said, “I like to think this particular event crosses all
divides because without these brave men and women, all the other things that
we're passionate about in our daily lives wouldn't exist.”
This year, the second consecutive year the event has taken
place, the rain-or-shine twelve-mile run will take place on Sunday, September
16, at Odiorne State Park in Rye. The course will feature posters of the
sixty-five men and one woman who died in military action from all over New
Hampshire. The number has increased by eleven since last year. Members of the families of these men
and women will be at each poster, and Hurrie said she expects 174 family
members to be in attendance thanking the runners as they pass by. Hurrie said
family members are coming from as far away as Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
“Although this event is on the Seacoast, it honors Heroes
from all over the state,” she said.
The day will start at 8 am at the main parking lot at
Odiorne and will open with the reading of the names of the fallen, a 21-gun
salute and the National Anthem. Runners will then proceed along the marked
course for twelve miles and at 10:45 am board trolleys supplied by York Trolley
Company and Seacoast Trolley Company to walk or run the last quarter mile
collectively in a procession called “Together in Gratitude.”
Hurrie is expecting an uptick in participation from last
year when approximately 250 runners and walkers completed the course.
“We're hoping for 500 this year,” she said. “We need
runners. As many people who can get out for this. It's open to everyone
including families with children.”
She stresses that it's not necessary to complete the entire
course on foot. “People can walk for a ways and take a break on one of the
trolleys that will be along the course and continue if they want to,” she said.
Along with approximately 120 volunteers who assist at
registration and at the water stations, Hurrie is supported by three main staff
members, Fran Lefavour and Nic Ayotte of Newmarket and Cindy Blodgett of
Hampton. None have military backgrounds, but Hurrie describes them as three
people “who really appreciate our freedom.”
Hurrie said she and her staff members are dedicated to a
continuation of the event and hopes that, as it attracts more participants, the
New Hampshire Run for the Fallen will be able to assist military families in
other ways.
“We are in our infancy and are able to pay for expenses (for
the Run) but hope that in the future we can assist families with their needs.
What's nice about this is while writing checks is good, this is an emotional
'check' and sometimes families need that more than money.”
At the end of the course, Carrabba's Italian Grill will be
catering the food for “The Hero's Lunch” and the Afterburners – the USAF Band
of Liberty from Hanscom Field will be furnishing the musical entertainment.
Hurrie said she is grateful to the corporate sponsors of the
event which include the Rotary Club of Hampton, Exeter Events and Tents,
Devine/Millimet, Leddy Group, Hannaford, Globe, as well as the two trolley
companies and Carrabba's.
Anyone wishing to participate in the event can get more
information or register at: www.runforthefallennh.org.
