Heroes and Run

Indiana’s Run for the Fallen has been a May mainstay in Portland for nearly a decade.

Jay County Hometown Heroes launched last year.

As both continue their mission to honor military veterans, a partnership seemed only logical.

On Friday, the Jay County Hometown Heroes banner dedication and closing ceremonies for the first day of the Run for the Fallen will run back-to-back — or at least as close as possible — at Portland’s Freedom Park.

Donald Gillespie of Run for the Fallen explained that he had been talking with Reda Theurer-Miller of Portland Main Street Connect, which put together the inaugural Hometown Heroes banner dedication ceremony in August. They decided it would make sense to partner for the benefit of both events.

“When Krista (Muhlenkamp) did the first one, we were invited to speak,” said Gillespie. “What Krista and that group is doing with the banners, we thoroughly appreciate. … Partnering together makes it a lot better for both organizations. …

“It was a collaboration of both of us wanting to get more people. … (The events) go together.”

The Run for the Fallen is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Freedom Park at 5:02 p.m., though schedules can change as runners traverse the 52 miles from Fort Wayne to Portland.

Meanwhile, the Jay County Hometown Heroes banner dedication will be held at 4:30 p.m. at Freedom Park. The event will include posting of the colors by Jay County Junior-Senior High School’s JROTC program, JCHS senior Morgan Reier performing the national anthem, an invocation and benediction by Pastor Matt Gierhart, comments from Portland Mayor John Boggs, a 21-gun salute by the Portland American Legion Post 211 Honor Guard, a reading of the names of those on the new Hometown Heroes banners by Muhlenkamp and bagpiper Reid Knuth, Fort Recovery High School’s band director, leading processions in and out.

Those in attendance will then be invited to stay to welcome participants in the Run for the Fallen as they arrive at Freedom Park for the closing ceremony of the first day of their three-day event.

“Hopefully that will be the case,” said Muhlenkamp.

Indiana’s Run for the Fallen, which begins with a ceremony at 7 a.m. Friday at the Allen County War Memorial in Fort Wayne, is in its ninth year. A group of 20 runners — this year the list includes Portland’s Eric Butcher and CR Dillon — rotate their way along the 140-mile route, stopping each mile to read the names of veterans for have lost their lives. (The focus is mostly on the war on terror.)

Runners are expected to reach Jay County at 3:15 p.m. with a stop in Bryant where Lance Cpl. Andrew F. Whitacre will be honored at 3:45 p.m. Arrival at the north side of Portland is set for 4:15 p.m. The closing ceremony for the first day will include honor Cpl. Andrew R. Swoveland.

Participants will depart from Freedom Park at 7 a.m. Saturday, reach Redkey about 9 a.m. and finish day two in Anderson. Day 3 begins at 7 a.m. Sunday, with arrival for closing ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Indianapolis at 1:20 p.m.

A full course map is available at indiana.usarunforthefallen.org.

Krista and her husband Troy Muhlenkamp spearheaded the Hometown Heroes project through Jake’s Little Patriot Fund, which was formed in honor of their son Jake following his death at the age of 15 in October 2020 in an off-road vehicle accident. A total of 133 veterans were honored on banners in Portland last year — the first dedication ceremony was in August — with an additional 22 in Dunkirk. Since then, 91 new veterans have been added to the list in Portland, with 11 in Dunkirk and 39 for the inaugural year in Pennville, bringing the total to almost 300.

“It’s just awesome,” said Muhlenkamp. “I just had no idea that there were that many veterans in our area.”

Those interested in applying for a veteran banner can email [email protected] or pick up a form at Friday’s event or at Jay County Chamber of Commerce.