CAPE MAY POINT — In a moving tribute of remembrance, a dedicated team of military personnel, first responders and supporters from across the country will embark on a 195+-mile journey to honor every New Jersey service member who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terror.
The 17th annual NJ Run for the Fallen is scheduld for Sept. 25-28. Each mile of the four-day journey is dedicated to an individual New Jersey hero, with the team stopping at designated Hero Markers along the route to present a flag and personalized biographical card to waiting family members, friends and comrades. This powerful act of remembrance forms a 195+ mile Memorial Trail through New Jersey.
The event begins with a Remembrance Ceremony and Dinner for NJ Gold Star Families on Sept. 24 at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum at the Cape May County Airport in the Erma section of Lower Township.
The following morning, the run starts at Sunset Beach in Cape May Point and continues through multiple towns, including Wildwood, Ocean City, Toms River, Point Pleasant, Sea Girt, Asbury Park and Long Branch. The journey concludes at the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel on National Gold Star Mother/Family Day.
Schedule
— Thursday, Sept. 25: 7 a.m. assemble at Sunset Beach, 502 Sunset Blvd. in Cape May Point. 7:35 a.m. a.m. Run Team start. Run through Cape May Point, Cape May, Lower Township, Wildwood Crest, Wildwood, Stone Harbor/Avalon, Sea Isle City and Ocean City, where the day will wrap up with a Run Team & Gold Star Family Dinner at American Legion Post 524, 4508 West Ave.
— Friday, Sept. 26: 7 a.m. start in parking lot of Point Diner at 8 MacArthur Blvd. in Somers Point. Run through Somers Point, Linwood, Northfield, Pleasantville, Absecon, Galloway Township, New Gretna, Little Egg Harbor Township, Tuckerton, Stafford and Manahawkin, where the day will wrap up at Manahawkin Elks Lodge #2340, 520 Hilliard Blvd.
— Saturday, Sept. 27: 6:45 a.m. start at Manahawkin Elks Lodge. Run through Manahawkin, Stafford, Barnegat, Waretown, Forked River, Lacey, Bayville, Lanoka Harbor, Pine Beach, Beachwood, Toms River and Brick. The day will wrap up at American Legion Post 129, 2025 Church Road in Toms River with a Run Team & Gold Star Family Dinner
— Sunday, Sept. 28: National Gold Star Mothers and Families Day.6:30 a.m. start at Brick Elks Lodge #2151, 2491 Hooper Ave. Run through Brick, Point Pleasant Beach, Brielle, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Belmar, Avon, Bradley Beach, Asbury Park, Interlaken, Deal, Long Branch, West Long Branch, Oceanport, Little Silver, Shrewsbury, Tinton Falls, Middletown, Lincroft and Holmdel. Day wraps up at 6:30 PM – with a ceremony at the NJ Gold Star Family Monument on the grounds of the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel.
Members of the Women’s Community Club of Cape May (part of New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs and General Federation of Women’s Clubs) will gather before 7:50 a.m. Sept. 25 at Sunset Boulevard and Seagrove Avenue to support the event.
“This run represents those who laid down their lives for our freedom. We ask the community to come and join us as we pay tribute to those service men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice,” the group said.
Local stops
— 7:40 a.m. opposite 704 W. Lake Drive, Cape May Point
— 7:50 a.m. at entrance to Cape May Lighthouse, 215 Light House Ave., Cape May Point
— 8:02 a.m. Sunset Boulevard/Seagrove Avenue in Lower Township.
— 8:12 a.m. Sunset Boulevard/Columbia Avenue
— 8:21 a.m. Beach Avenue/Patterson Avenue, Cape May
— 8:21 a.m. Beach Avenue/Patterson Avenue
— 8:31 a.m. Cape May Veterans Monument, 610 Columbia Ave., Cape May
— 8:40 a.m. Kiwanis Community Park at flagpole, 807 Madison Ave., Cape May
— 8:45 a.m. Cape May City Elementary School, 921 Lafayette St.
— 8:59 a.m. 113 Myrtle Ave. on left at the flagpole, West Cape May
— 9:08 a.m. West Cape May Elementary School, 301 Moore St.
— 9:14 a.m. West Cape May Firehouse at flagpole. 729 Broadway
— 9:26 a.m. Seashore Road and Seashore Bridge Road, Lower Township
— 9:35 a.m. Sandman Consolidated School, 838 Seashore Road. Lower Township.
— 9:50 a.m. 703 Seashore Road, Lower Township
— 10:02 a.m. Lower Cape May High School flagpole, 687 Route 9, Lower Township
