New Jersey Run for the Fallen to Honor Local Heroes in Belmar

BELMAR, NJ – Residents of Belmar are invited to show their support on Sunday, September 29, as the New Jersey Run for the Fallen makes its way through the town, honoring two local heroes with Hero Markers on Ocean Avenue. The run, a 225+ mile journey across New Jersey, pays tribute to the state’s service members who lost their lives during the Global War on Terror (GWOT).

The New Jersey Run for the Fallen team will make their first stop in Belmar at the North Boulevard beach entrance at approximately 9:07 a.m. to honor Carlos M. Gonzalez of Passaic, New Jersey, who died at age 22 on March 16, 2006, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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A second stop will be made at the flagpole between 5th and 6th Avenues at approximately 9:21 a.m. to honor Campbell McKenna of Shark River Hills, Neptune, who died at age 21 on August 27, 2003. Each of these stops, known as Hero Markers, will feature the Honor Wall trailer, displaying the names and photos of fallen New Jersey heroes. The trailer will arrive first, with the run team following 15-30 minutes later.

The New Jersey Run for the Fallen, which began in Cape May on Thursday, September 26, will conclude at the New Jersey Gold Star Family Monument on the grounds of the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the PNC Arts Center. Along the way, the team of military runners from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and other locations will honor fallen service members from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and other conflicts.

Their mission is clear: “to run one mile for each New Jersey service member who has died during the GWOT.” Each mile of the run is dedicated to a fallen hero, with a distinctive Hero Marker placed at the end of every mile. At each marker, a team member will read aloud the bio of the hero being honored, followed by a salute and a ceremonial flag handoff to family members or friends.

The organizers hope to one day see Ocean Avenue lined with residents holding flags as the Run for the Fallen passes through Belmar and other towns. Local participation is encouraged as a gesture of respect and remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

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For those unable to attend, there will be a live feed on the New Jersey Run for the Fallen Facebook page, allowing the community to follow the team’s progress in real time.

This year, with over 200 Hero Markers spread throughout the state, the New Jersey Run for the Fallen continues to create a moving memorial trail that stretches more than 225 miles, ensuring that the sacrifices of New Jersey’s fallen heroes are never forgotten.

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