JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --
Joint Base MDL hosted the 11th annual Gold Star Ruck March here, Oct. 7, 2017.
The Gold Star Ruck March is an annual charity event benefiting Gold Star families across New Jersey. A Gold Star family is the family of a service member who has fallen while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
“In the military, we all share the burden of sacrifice,” said Air Force District of Washington Command Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Mazzone. “I challenge you to make it personal. Honor our fallen brothers and sisters.”
During the 6.5 mile event, participants wear a 30-pound rucksack and represent one of the Gold Star families as a team. The more than 200 participants from all services were encouraged to finish abreast and never leave a teammate behind.
Across the globe, deployed service members assembled teams to participate alongside their stateside counterparts in spirit. Gold Star families unable to attend this year’s event back at home station were represented by the teams on the other side of the world as a way to show the families that their sacrifices are not forgotten.
“This is our way of bringing a piece of home to a deployed location while honoring the sacrifices of the Gold Star families and their service members,” said Master Sgt. Amanda Kudlas, 305th Operations Support Squadron First Sergeant. “We show them that we are a big family and that we continue to take care of each other. I would love for all of the deployed locations to do something like this.”
The weight on the backs of participants during the march symbolizes the burden that Gold Star families carry at all times.
“The burden of Gold Star families is heavier than any 30-pound rucksack,” said Kudlas. “In the profession of arms we’re a big family – this event shows the families that we don’t leave team members behind.”