Run for the Fallen: A three-day journey from Columbia to Mount Pleasant

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — Keeping the memories of the fallen alive.

The fifth annual Run for the Fallen concluded on Oct. 22 at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant. It began on Oct. 20 at the South Carolina State House in Columbia and participants traveled 125 miles over the three days in honor of fallen military men and women from the state.

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“We’re here today to culminate the Run for the Fallen,” Maj. Van McCarty said. “To honor our South Carolina servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to this great nation.”

The event honored their families as well.

“To be a gold star, it means that your loved one, your son or your daughter, has paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of this great nation,” McCarty said. “What a day. To pause and be with our gold star mothers and our gold star families to thank them for the service and the sacrifice their loved ones made to this great nation.”

To thank them for their sacrifices, members of the community ran across state lines to pay respects, saying their names throughout the journey.

Army veteran Brian Hakes, who participated in the event, said, “They say we die two deaths. One when we actually die and one when we stop saying the names.”

“When we say those names, it shows their loved ones are not forgotten,” he said. “Their sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters are not forgotten.”

Major Van McCarty says participants made a total of 130 stops to honor 434 fallen heroes.

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The families of the fallen say they could not be more grateful the community is remembering their loved ones legacy.