Running to remember

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jaeda Tookes
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Every Saturday morning, members of Team Malmstrom meet to run for "Wear Blue to Remember."

2nd Lt. Aaron Quick, 341st Contracting Squadron officer in charge of the base infrastructure flight, started a "Wear Blue to Remember" running club at Malmstrom.

"Wear Blue to Remember" is a nationwide nonprofit running organization that pays tribute to fallen American military heroes.

According to wearbluetoremember.org, the group was started after the 5-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team sustained a significant amount of combat losses and casualties, while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

During the deployment, a small group of wives and battalion support staff met weekly to run, seeking to create a support network for one another during the challenging deployment.

"To me, 'Wear Blue to Remember' is a way to honor those who have sacrificed it all," said Quick. "It helps (us) remember how many people have lost their lives protecting our freedom."

Every Saturday morning before running, members hold a "circle of remembrance."

"In the circle of remembrance, names of military members who have lost their lives on that (specific Saturday) in the past 13 years are called out," said Quick "After the names are called, we pause for a moment of silence."

According to Quick, hearing the names of those who have lost their lives puts everything into perspective.

The running club was started in October 2015, as a commemoratory, to bridge the gap between the military and the local community, and to act as a network support system.

"As a member of the armed services, it is important to understand the sacrifices we are willing to make by putting on the uniform every day," said Quick.

Members are able to run or walk as far as they would like, but typically the distance is two miles.

The club is open to anyone wanting to join and meetings are held every Saturday at 8 a.m., at Giant Springs State Park along the River's Edge Trail.