Gold Star Mother’s Ruck March: moving tribute

Published Oct. 20, 2011
By James L. Hodges
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The 5th Annual Gold Star Mother's Ruck March, held Oct. 15 on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, attracted more than 300 runners, making up approximately 76 teams of four.

The 20 Gold Star Mothers from New Jersey and Pennsylvania in attendance presented each team with a memento during a ceremony prior to the start of the march. The mementos ranged from dog tags, buttons and patches to honor their fallen son or daughter.

Servicemembers of all branches and ranks formed teams to honor the fallen. The joint base leadership team consisting of Air Force Col. John Wood, JB MDL and 87th Air Base Wing Commander; Army Col. Joseph Whitlock, JB MDL Deputy Commander; Command Chief Master Sgt. Lee Woffard, 87th Air Base Wing; and Air Force Capt. Douglas Bauer, 87th Air Base Wing executive officer; were presented mementos by Gold Star Mother Joan Curtin to honor her son, Army Cpl. Michael Curtin. Michael, a native of South Plains, N.J., was killed during a suicide car bombing near Najaf, Iraq March 23, 2003.

Master Sgt. Travis Kintzel, Master Sgt. Luis Buot, Senior Airman Peaches Rimarim and Airmen 1st Class Shelly Roy, one of the five 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron heavy ruck teams, received a patch from Gold Star Mother Cindy Malmo to honor her son Army Sgt. Michael R. Hullender of Little Falls, N.J. Hullender died April 28, 2007 from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit in Iskandariyah, Iraq.

"We're paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for us in support of our country," said Rimarim. "Thirty pounds is actually heavy, but we're going to finish this because it's for them."

The Noncommissioned Officer Academy team, comprised of Sgt. 1st Class Brud Nicki, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Hill, Staff Sgt. Elit Pierre and Staff Sgt. Christopher Trammell, were running to honor their fallen brothers and sisters, and their families. They also wanted to lead by example.

"At the NCO Academy one of the primary things we do is teach leadership to the lower enlisted soldiers, and lead from the front," said Trammell. "Something like this, supporting the community, is showing leadership and taking the first step. That's why we're here."

Gold Star Mother Diane Fenton presented the NCO Academy team with dog tags to honor her son Marine Sgt. Matthew J. Fenton, from Little Ferry N.J., who died from wounds received while conducting combat operation in Anbar province, Iraq.

The approximately six-mile course started at the 621st Contingency Response Wing warehouse and continued throughout McGuire.

Founded in 1928, the American Gold Star Mother Inc. is a national organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of the United States. During World War I, mothers would display a blue star in their window to represent a son serving in the military. To honor a fallen son a gold star would be placed over the blue star.