Community Corner
Fallen Soldier March to Travel Through Fenton
The march to honor those who have lost their lives serving the country will start in Linden and travel 13 miles to the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly this spring.
Two years ago hundreds of soldiers and residents marched from Linden, through Fenton, to the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly to honor fallen comrades in a Fallen Soldier March.
Just one march wasn't enough to honor the sacrifices of those who fought for America's freedom, however, said First Lt. Richard Dunkley, of Linden.
That's why Dunkley and his wife Mary have organized a second Fallen Soldier March to follow the same path on April 20.
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"A couple of families that had lost children overseas said that they were really moved that someone who do something to honor their children. That was reward enough to do it again," Dunkley said.
After the march in 2011, Dunkley was deployed to Afghanistan where he served in logistics. He spent nearly a year overseas and now is ready to complete another Fallen Soldier March.
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"I am just looking forward to honoring our fallen soldiers," Dunkley said. "It would be great to have veterans and families participate."
The march will begin at 9 a.m. April 20 at the VFW post 4642 in Linden and proceed 13 miles to the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. Participants are asked to arrive early to attend a safety briefing that will take place at 8:30 a.m.
All active, reserve, retired service members and civilian supporters are invited to participate in this event. Uniform for active and reserve service members is ACU’s with patrol cap for Army or the appropriate field uniform for other services. Civilians should wear appropriate casual attire. It is recommended that everyone bring some source of water with them for the march. For the Soldiers a 30-pound rucksack is optional.
New this year will be scheduled stops, if people would like to participate in a portion of the march. Also, officials will be accepting donations for two charities that directly support fallen Soldiers and their family, the 1-125IN BN memorial for fallen Soldiers and the Helping Heroes of America - Joe Johnson Scholarship.
"I definitely want to keep up with honoring the soldiers that sacrificed their lives for our freedom," Dunkley said.
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