On Sunday, August 21st, over 800 attended the 4th Annual Run For the Fallen event, held at E.G. Simmons Park in Ruskin, hosted by the Tampa Area Marine Parents Association.
 Seventeen Gold Star families were represented and the Florida Fallen Memorial, loaned by Jim Vanderbleek, was again on display. Added this year was an interactive memorial for participants to see  the impact on our state by the sacrifices being made by our military men, women and their families. This local annual event began in 2008 with 230 participants and has grown with a dedicated following over the past 4 years.
To date the state of Florida has lost 302 military men and women serving in Iraq & Afghanistan. T.A.M.P.A.’s goal each year is to have a walker/runner representative for each of Florida’s fallen. Each participant received a bib with the name, picture and information of a specific fallen hero from Florida. Participants included active military from MacDill AFB, USMC 4th Amphibious Reserve Center, Wounded Warriors, Recruiters, Veterans, Veteran & Military Organizations, JROTC Cadets and many patriotic supporters throughout the Tampa Bay community, the state of Florida and beyond.   Bibs honoring our Fallen - All ages participated Gold Star Families attended for:
Sgt. Patrick S. Tainsh - USArmy - KIA 2-11-2004 - Iraq LCpl Scott E. Dougherty, USMC - KIA 7-6-2004 - Iraq
Sgt. Dennis Flanagan, USArmy - KIA 1-20-2006 - Iraq
Sgt. Lea R. Mills, USMC - KIA 4-28-2006 - Iraq
SSgt. Joseph F. Fuerst III, USArmy - KIA 6-24-2006 - Afghanistan
Sgt. Cory L. Clark - USArmy - KIA 8-28-2007 - Afghanistan
Marcus Mathes, USArmy - KIA 4-28-2008 - Iraq
Capt. Garrett T. Lawton, USMC - KIA 8-4-2008 - Afghanistan
Justin Dean Coleman, USArmy - KIA 7-24-2009 - Afghanistan
SSgt. Bryan Berky, USAirForce - KIA 9-12-2009 - Afghanistan
SSgt. David A. Croft Jr. - USArmy - KIA 1-5-2010 - Iraq
Sgt. Daniel Angus - USMC - KIA 1-24-2010 - Afghanistan
SSgt. John A. Reiners - USArmy - KIA 2-13-2010 - Afghanistan
Pfc. Paul O. Cuzzupe II - USArmy - KIA 8-8-2010 - Afghanistan
Gny Sgt. Floyd EC Holley - USMC - KIA 8-29-2010 - Afghanistan
Spc. David Hess - USArmy - KIA 10-10-2010 - Afghanistan
LCpl Ronald D. Freeman - USMC - KIA 4-28-2011 - Afghanistan
“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” - Thucydides
T.A.M.P.A. would like to thank it's members,
supporters and many generous contributors
for helping to make this event another wonderful success.
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