Community Corner

Run for the Fallen Touches Hearts in Holmdel

Runners take a 152-mile trek and pay tribute to fallen heroes along the way. The event finished in Holmdel Township.

In a three-day event that culminated in Holmdel Township, hundreds of people gave their respect and honor to New Jersey's fallen soldiers and their families.

The ambitious 152-mile Run for the Fallen got a rain-soaked start in Cape May on Friday, but continued through the weekend without much more than mugginess to dampen the fierce pride shown by the active-duty soldiers and community volunteers who took part on the journey through the Garden State. At every mile the contingent stopped to honor New Jersey's fallen at temporary "Hero Markers" erected this weekend.

The event involved numerous Gold Star families and friends, motorcycle clubs, local veterans' groups, Scout troops, student athletes, helpers from the Half Century Club and representation (and help) from police, first aid and firefighters from Holmdel, Hazlet, MIddletown, Union Beach and Keansburg. It was a yearlong project organized by Holmdel's Mike Simpson. Stacy Murphy of Manalapan coordinated the Holmdel's events at Vonage and the Memorial.

Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Sunday afternoon., the Run Team arrived in Monmouth County, and paused to pay to give respect at Hero Markers in Rumson, Little Silver, Shrewsbury, Red Bank and Lincroft.

At the same time in Holmdel, the public could take part in walk/run/ride of honor at Vonage on Route 520 in Holmdel. The Run Team made its way there in the evening to pay tribute to several local soldiers with Hero Markers along the mile-long loop at the property.

Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A traveling memorial wall was part of the procession. As it paused on its route at Vonage, Gold Star mother Sue Niederer requested help from a few Vietnam War veterans to climb up on the float to touch her son's name, Army 2nd Lt. Seth J. Dvorin. He was just 24 years old when he was killed. She kissed her fingers and caressed his name. 

"It's the emotion," she said, afterwards. "All I want to do is kiss him. Tell him I love him. It hurts. It hurts," she said. She wore a dogtag-type necklace around her neck, inscribed with "Broken Hearts Memorial."

Nearby, the Gurbisz family was experiencing the emotional moment of having their own family member, James Gurbisz Jr. of Eatontown, honored by the Run for the Fallen.

The whole event is "wonderful...and its very sad," said Helen Gurbisz, standing with her husband, Ken Gurbisz, near the Hero Mile Marker for their fallen soldier son. 

Just the night before, the family had celebrated the wedding of their  daughter, Kathleen Gurbisz, to Stephen Forte. But James' absence was keenly felt.

"This is something I can do," said Kathleen, who wore a shirt declaring her brother her hero. "I'm very proud to run in his honor," she said.

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See more photos taken by Run for the Fallen photographers at this link.

The Run for the Fallen is a 501c3 (IRS Pending) organization. The Trustees are:

  • Mike Simpson, President
  • Richard Naticchione, Vice President
  • MSgt. Robert E. Grant, Treasurer
  • SMSgt. Lynn M. Morelly
  • Gladys Naticchione, Secretary
  • Judith Tapper
  • Donna Zabe
  • Eileen Kreis


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