BRUNSWICK
Those with Maine ties who died while serving their country since Sept. 11, 2001, will be honored Sunday in Brunswick during the seventh annual Run for the Fallen.
The run is a celebration of 88 men and two women, a display of unity, and show of thanks to their families, according to organizers.
Among those honored will be Cpl. Joshua Barron, a Marine who grew up in Standish.
Cpl. Barron was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, where he was a Harrier jet mechanic, according to the Associated Press.
His body was found in March 2011 in an irrigation canal in Yuma. Cpl. Barron was the victim of a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Police ruled the death a suicide, but family members believed that foul play was involved.
Cpl. Barron’s father, Dean Barron, is an organizer for this year’s event, and said that past events have helped ease the pain for family members of deceased service men and women.
“I can tell you from personal experience that it definitely helps in the grieving process,” said Dean Barron. “It is a life-changing day.”
The Maine event, founded by John Mixon of Ogunquit, will bring families of the fallen closer together, Mixon said.
“The whole event is about honoring memories and keeping their names alive,” said Mixon.
Originally, the Maine Run for the Fallen followed a route starting from Ogunquit northward. Each mile ran represented someone who had been killed while in the service since 9/11. Eventually, the route stretched to Portland, and so organizers changed the event into a 5K road race.
This will be the first year the event is held in Brunswick.
Sunday’s event begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Brunswick Recreation Center at the former naval air station with sameday registration. Opening ceremonies, including prayer, reading of each soldier’s name and a song to remember the fallen will take place at 9:30 a.m.
The 5K run and family-friendly walk starts at 10 a.m. Runners will be led from the starting line on Neptune Drive by the Maine Patriot Guard along a designated route lined with posters representing those who have fallen.
Dean Barron said about 250 members of the Maine Patriot Guard will be on hand, and he’s hoping that hundreds more will attend.
Live entertainment will be provided by North of Nashville & Matt Fournier. Scholarship money will also be awarded.
Go to www.runforthefallenmaine.org for more information or to donate.
jswinconeck@timesrecord.com
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