Community Corner

Fallen Soldiers March to Travel Through Fenton

Participants to make 13-mile trek from Linden to Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly.

When Second Lt. Rick Dunkley began planning his First Annual Fallen Soliders March slated for Saturday, little did he know the significance that the 13-mile hike from Linden to the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly Township would have.

First Sgt. Jim Williams of Lebanon, TN first began the tradition of the Fallen Soldiers March in 2007 after returning from a year long deployment in Iraq with the 168th Military Police Battalion.

“His unit had lost several guardsmen over there and the thing that shocked him when he came home was how ‘normal’ life was here – everyone was going on with their normal lives,” Dunkely’s wife Mary explained. “It bothered him, so he decided to march 9 miles for the nine soldiers he had lost over there – he just grabbed his flag and started walking.”

Set for deployment to Afghanistan in August, Mary said her husband wanted to participate in the Tennessee event, but due to training conflicts, will not be able to attend.

“Instead, he decided to set up his own march,” Mary said. “He said, ‘I can do it myself, you can walk with me, or we can make a few phone calls to see if  we can get some of the guys from units around here to march with us with is,’” she added.  “We’re not sure how many people will be walking with us, but word is spreading fast.”

Beginning at the Linden VFW Post 4642, 105 Mill St., the 13-mile march steps off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, winding its way down Silver Lake Road to Fenton, and on to Grange Hall Road to Holly. Once in Holly, the march will head north for the final five miles to Great Lakes National Cemetery.

Thomas Foster, a former command sergeant of Dunkley’s, said the 13-mile march holds great significance for the soldiers of the 125th infantry. “He said, ‘Did you know that 13 represents the number of soldiers the 125th infantry has lost to date?’” Mary said. “That’s eerie because that’s what the number really represents – obviously, it was meant to be.”

While he intends to walk the entire 13-mile route, Holly American Legion Post 149 member Chuck Moberg invited others to join in. “The Holly American Legion wholeheartedly supports this event,” he said. “If any adults are up for it, please join the vets and other walkers for the final five mile walk to the cemetery from McDonalds on N. Holly Road.”

A Vietnam veteran himself, Moberg said the march holds great significance for him, too. “For me this is quite personal,” he said. “Hopefully I’m going to be able to march the entire 13-miles and it’s going to be in memory of the 27 soldiers from my infantry who made the ultimate sacrifice during my years in Vietnam.”

Moberg estimates that the march will reach Holly around 11:30 a.m.

Find out what's happening in Fentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mary Dunkely said a brief ceremony will take place at Great Lakes National Cemetery before marchers are invited back to the Linden VFW for a post-march potluck.

“We’re just asking that folks bring a dish to pass,” she said. “We’re all going to be hungry and it will be a great opportunity for some of our current soldiers to connect with our veterans.”

Find out what's happening in Fentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

- Submitted by Amy Mayhew, The Holly Express


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here