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Hoosiers pack party favors for Mini-Marathon
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry
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Karen
Lucas, a Family Readiness Support Assistant with the Indiana
National Guard, sorts Mini-Marathon supplies at the Tyndall
- Moorhead Armory in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 20. The
supplies will be sent to 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Soldiers deployed to Iraq so they can run a remote version
of the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Saturday, May 3. "The
deployed Soldiers will receive shirts and medals the same as
the ones here," said Lindsey Hendren, event manager of the
Mini-Marathon. Indiana National Guard photo by Staff Sgt.
Jeff Lowry |
Most Hoosiers running May 3, whether in Indianapolis or Iraq, will have at least one thing
in common - they will run the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.
Thanks to home front Hoosiers, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Soldiers deployed to Iraq at Logistics Support Area
Anaconda, will have the opportunity to run 13.1 miles in a remote
version of the Mini-Marathon.
"The deployed Soldiers will receive shirts and medals the same as
the ones here," said Lindsey Hendren, event manager of the
Mini-Marathon.
Indiana
National Guard Soldiers, Family Readiness Group employees, Guard
family members, and Festival staff held a packing party at the
Tyndall – Moorhead Armory in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 20. Items they
packed are energy drinks, cups, coolers and t-shirts. Those items
will then be shipped to the deployed Soldiers in time for the race.
"They protect us and keep us safe, and we support them," said
Hendren. "It's the least we could do; it gives them a bit of home."
This isn't the first remote version of the Mini-Marathon. In 2007,
more than 800 members of the 38th Infantry Division participated in
Baghdad, and in 2004 the Division Soldiers ran one in Bosnia.
Anne Conner’s husband, now deployed with the 76th, ran one in
Afghanistan
when his unit deployed there in 2004. Anne was at the armory to help
pack the Festival items. "I'm here to support the troops over there
and my husband," she said enthusiastically.
Karen Lucas, a Family Readiness Support assistant, thinks the remote
versions are great.
"It's a feel-good thing, especially for Soldiers who run it
regularly," she said. "They don't have to miss it."
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