Virginia
RUN FOR THE
FALLEN

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you are planning to be at your loved one's marker here are a few things to know and do:

  1. Find your loved one's location, date and time on the spreadsheet or by searching find a hero.
  2. Meet up with us the morning of your day or the night before at end of day ceremony. (routes and ceremony locations will be posted by day on the state route pages)
  3. Markers should be pre-placed by the morning of each day and location is listed on route maps.
  4. Call us the day before or morning of to let us coordinate with you.
  5. We are following a specific route based upon the map route however timing may vary throughout the day.
  6. Follow our prescribed route and find our caravan, we can guide you once we connect with you.
  7. Follow us on FB LIVE.

Q: What is the Virginia Run for the Fallen?

A: Virginia's Run for the Fallen is a statewide relay foot run in tribute to every Virginia military service member who has died while serving or as a result of serving during the War on Terror, since October 12, 2000.

Q: How does the Run work?

A: A core team of marathon trained runners, along with a support crew running a specific timed schedule, will stop at one mile intervals at a pre-placed marker and speak out loud the name of each fallen service member, date of death and branch of service. Family members, friends and patriots will be waiting at their marker to meet the runners and hear each name called out in a short ceremony.  Each ceremonial stop will be less than 1 minute as runners then continue toward the next marker.

Q: What support are you looking for?

A: As you can expect our needs are many and varied. Support is needed both locally and nationally, volunteer as well as financial. We need commitments from runners, support crew, law enforcement, sponsors, organizations, media and individual communities. VOLUNTEER FORM

Q: What Heroes are being honored along this tribute trail?

A: Our focus for this event is the War on Terror. We have identified state service members who have died while serving or as a result of serving during this period.  Criteria includes all service members regardless of cause of death.

Q: Is this tribute primarily for those who died in action?

A: No, The Honor and Remember Organization and Flag recognizes all military who died while serving or as a result of serving regardless of circumstance. Subsequently our Run for the Fallen events honor all of those service members who served and died whether in battle or due to the overwhelming hidden emotional scars of serving.

Q: How do I search to see if my Fallen Hero is being honored?

A: Every fallen service member since October 12, 2000 should be listed in our database. Click on FIND A HERO on our home page to search for your friend or loved one.

Q: My Hero did not die during the period of the War on Terror (WOT), will they still be honored?

A: Although Run for the Fallen is focused on the time period from October 12, 2000 forward we have in place many opportunities to honor your loved one. WOT hero markers will be placed at designated locations for you to attend. Also at the end of each day there will be a planned ceremony where we will honor additional family members. Any family member or friend who attends any of our end of day events, regardless of generation. Look over our route and determine where you possibly could attend and let us know. We are dedicated to include every fallen service member possible depending on family availability.

Q: What if the Hero's information is missing or inaccurate?

A: If you find any errors in the listed information please send an email to dataupdate@runforthefallen.org or you may click on the FIND A HERO link and fill in the ADD A HERO section with updates.

Q: What if I can't find my Hero on the Run for the Fallen search?

A: When you do a search to FIND A HEROand they are not identified there will be a link titled "ADD A HERO ". Please fill out all required information and once we verify, they will be added to the run according to their date of death. While we have an extensive list of service members there may be many that we have missed. We need to hear from you if you cannot find your loved one along the route.

Q: Can a family member, friend, or comrade run with the core team for their mile?

A: Yes, but most importantly, they must be capable of keeping pace with our team members. In practice that means that you should be capable of running that mile in 8-9 minutes. Please remember that whoever is running that mile must get their own transportation to the preceding Hero Marker in time to join in with our team. So - if your HM is for example 116 then you should be at 115 to join our Team to run your marker. The planned arrival dates/times at each location will be available on our maps well in advance of the Run.

Q: Can a family member, friend, or comrade run with the core team for their mile?

A: First, search for your loved one's marker along the route. Second, let us know that you'll be there and we will do our best to identify the exact time and location that day. Be sure to select "Stand At a Hero Marker" on the volunteer form.

Q: Can I stand and wait for the Run Team to arrive at my Hero's Marker?

A: We encourage ALL family members and friends to be at their loved one's marker if at all possible. Please bring photos, posters, banners, Honor and Remember Flags or whatever personal tribute you would like to visually make. We realize that there may be some great distance for some to travel. If you cannot attend, please send someone in your place or select another hero along the route closest to you to stand for. Each ceremonial stop will be less than 1 minute as runners then run toward next marker. Also please join us at each end of day ceremony so that we may honor you there as well.

Caution: each Hero Marker is placed approximately one mile apart. Some placements may not be along road conditions that are conducive to safely parking or standing on the side of the highway. Please use wise judgement when waiting for the runners to arrive, safety for all is our number one concern. You may want to consider standing at another marker close by in a safer location and letting us know where you may be waiting..

Q: How do I find My Hero's Marker?

A: Hero Markers may or may not be placed the morning of each day. If placed they will be at approximately 1 mile increments for the number of total miles being covered that day. If your marker number is a specific mile on a specific day it can be found based on our daily start location. Makers could be found on road signs, light poles, staked on the ground or logical places they can be spotted easily.

Q: What will the Hero Marker Look Like?

A: If Markers are placed that day, they will be printed in color and laminated on an 8 1/2" x 11" full sheet. If possible we are planning to decorate for easier visibility.

Q: When Should I arrive at my Hero's Marker?

A: Each marker is specifically timed. The team is running a pace of between 8-10 minutes between each.  Depending on road conditions whether rain or shine, they could be on time or behind.  We will place an approximate timetable on each map and suggest you arrive 30-60 minutes ahead of schedule. You may also contact us day-of so that we can update you on our progress. Each ceremonial stop will be less than 1 minute as runners then continue toward next marker.

Q: I cant make it to our marker but would still like to participate.

A: Due to time and distance restraints we know you may not be available to directly participate at your specific marker. However, we would encourage you to send friends or relatives to yours and you could stand for another family in a location that may be closer in proximity to your home state.

In addition there will be a live feed posted on our Run for the Fallen FB page.

Also - there are many other opportunities to participate by being a part of the beginning ceremony or at the end of each day or by concluding with us at the Arlington National Cemetery.

Q: Can my Hero's marker be moved to another location?

A: Virginia's Run for the Fallen is a state run to include every fallen service member since the USS Cole. Unfortunately because of the extensive number of lives lost it was impossible to locate every marker near a hometown or family residence. However if you determine that there may be a more convenient location to you please let us know and we will work to accommodate.

We realize that some families may not be able to attend their marker. In this regard we can offer several options;

If you can be at your marker with us great, we are working to include a live component to the run so that you can follow us honor your hero live online.

  1. If you can be at your marker with us great, we are working to include a live component to the run so that you can follow us honor your hero live online.
  2. If you cannot attend, please send a relative or a friend to be there, maybe even another GS family. You could in turn be at their marker somewhere closer. Also there will be a ceremony at the end of each day you could attend.
  3. If you cannot attend there is still an opportunity we can honor your hero with you on a particular day closer to you. Let us know the best day and place and our end of day ceremony will include all those whose families are present. Contact us and provide the best location for you along the route so we can plan on your loved for that end of day. We hope to see you somewhere along the route. If you can assist in any way please let us know.

Q: Are there other ways I get involved?

A: There are many ways to help us fulfill this mission and as you can expect our needs are many and varied. Support is needed both locally and nationally, volunteer as well as financial. We need commitments from runners, support crew, law enforcement, sponsors, organizations, media and individual communities. Please fill out our VOLUNTEER FORM in the links above or contact us at Virginia@RunfortheFallen.org or for record changes write to dataupdate@runforthefallen.org.