WATERMELON RUN FOR THE FALLEN COMING ON AUGUST 20

  

The City of Hempstead will be honoring the men and women of the United States military that have lost their lives in combat with the annual “Watermelon Run for the Fallen.”

This year’s “Watermelon Run for the Fallen” will be held on Saturday, August 20. Participants are asked to arrive at the Hempstead ISD Football Stadium by 6:30am, with the run starting about 7:20am. The Gold Star Families will do the first lap, and then the rest of the participants will join in.

The initial “Run for the Fallen” event took place in 2008 when a team of runners ran across America from Fort Irwin, California to Arlington National Cemetery.

They ran one mile for each individual who gave his or her life serving our country in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Hempstead Police Chief David Hartley and his wife started the local run in 2010 in memory of their son Staff Segreant Jeffrey Lee Hartley.

Staff Sgt. Hartley joined the army in 2001. Hartley was deployed five times, four to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.  He received eight Army commendation medals, one with valor, and two Bronze Stars, one with valor. Hartley was killed in Iraq on April 8, 2008.

Chief Hartley said that the originators of the “Run for the Fallen” were looking to bring the event to local communities.  The Hartleys reached out to the local VFW, the City of Hempstead, and numerous volunteers.

Since Hempstead is known for having the best watermelons, the local event, which was first held on August 21, 2010, was named the “Watermelon Run for the Fallen.”

If you knew one of the fallen, you can run for that person.  If you did not know now one, you will be introduced to a fallen hero during registration. Registration forms are available on their website at www.watermelonrftf.net, or you can register on the day of the event.