NH Run for the Fallen
Run for the Fallen NH is dedicated to honoring and remembering the lives of our New Hampshire military service members who have given their lives since September 11, 2001, and to showing our gratitude to the families they have left behind. Every year, our Fallen Heroes' posters line the run course, with their families standing by their loved one's poster. Each mile we run, we salute, shake hands, or hug our Gold Star families and thank them for their sacrifice. Although we run to honor and remember each fallen hero from recent conflicts, we remember every service member from New Hampshire who laid down their lives for freedom's cause. Thousands have sacrificed to preserve our way of life. As we give tribute to our New Hampshire Heroes, we also remember others who have given the ultimate sacrifice throughout history. Regardless of war, conflict, or branch of service, we ultimately run for them all, honoring their service and sacrifice. We remember that they each gave up a future so that we could have ours. We give tribute to them by name wherever possible and to the sacrifice of the families they left behind.
WHAT DOES "GOLD STAR" MEAN?
The term "Gold Star" describes a family member who has lost a loved one in military service. The Gold Star first made an appearance during World War I after being placed over a service flag's blue star when a service member was killed in combat. The Gold Star signified the family's pride in the loved one's sacrifice rather than the mourning of their personal loss.