Event helps families cope with loss of loved ones

Run for the fallen
RYE, N.H. —
Nearly 100 people ran 11.9 miles to honor the 67 New Hampshire soldiers who have died in combat at the “Run for the Fallen New Hampshire” charity event.

The annual event, which started in 2011, helps families cope with their loss after loved ones sacrificed their lives for a better tomorrow.

Runners waved American flags as they crossed the finish line, where they were greeted by families of the fallen soldiers.

Jon Forcier was among the runners. He said he saw mothers were crying at the event.

“I mean, you don’t expect to outlive your kids,” he said.

Coping with that loss is what ties these parents, brothers and sisters together.

Luke Douglas told News 9 that the event meant a lot to him and his family. His cousin, Marine Lance Corporal Michael Geary, was from Derry. He died in Afghanistan in 2010 when he was 20 years old.

“He was like a brother to me,” Douglas said.

Organizers placed the faces of the fallen soldiers and set in the ground.

“It’s just a wonderful thing,” said Michael McCormack, who lost his nephew in combat. He said being around other families helps with the grieving process.

“In her mind it’s keeping her son’s spirit alive,” he said.

For Vanessa Allard-Turgeon, time stood still when she learned her cousin, Army Specialist Jeremiah Holmes, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

“I couldn’t really process it at the moment,” Allard-Turgeon said. “It’s nice to have these moments here where I’m not grieving by myself, but with others as well,” she said.

After the run ended, people planted the flags they were carrying in a circle around the placards — a somber reminder this event isn’t only about grieving, it’s about remembering and honoring local heroes.

“These men and women are sacrificing their lives and I know if these people were still here today with us, they would do the same thing all over again. Their country means everything to them,” McCormack said.