5K For the Fallen, A Run to Heal, A Run to Remember

Runningat5KYelm, WA — Before firing up the barbecue for the long weekend, many members of the community gathered for the City of Yelm’s annual 5K for the Fallen to walk, run, or bike in honor of the countless men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

“I appreciate everyone starting Memorial Day weekend here, in the City of Yelm but even more as a community, a community that is committed to honoring and remembering the sacrifice of our American Military,” Lisa Hallet, founder of wear blue: run to remember said.

The 5K began with a circle of remembrance where participants shared the name of every soldier they were dedicating their 5K to and then honored our fallen service members with a moment of silence. After the names were shared, participants took to the Yelm-Tenino trail, lined with several posters of fallen soldiers where the runners, walkers, and bikers collectively logged 450 miles in remembrance of the countless soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

“wear blue: run to remember” is a community that honors the service and sacrifice of the American military and creates a support network for military members and their families. The nonprofit bridges the gap between military and civilian communities and it creates a living memorial for our country’s fallen military members. Lisa created "wear blue: run to remember" after her husband, Capt. John Hallet was killed in action in 2009, leaving behind his wife Lisa and their three children, ages 3, 1, and three-weeks. Lisa began running as a way to heal and now runs to remember.

unnamed“We take this moment to celebrate the lives of these men and women who lived so courageously and let the inspiration of their lives inspire how we live ours, Hallet said. “Today we are going to ground our s by taking the time to speak their names. By speaking their names we are able to carry their lives and their stories with us.”