Join the Military Service Membership Employee Resource Group (ERG) in honoring service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The event will take place at East Madison Hospital on Friday, May 23 from 10 a.m.-noon. This year, the ERG is partnering once again with wear blue: run to remember, an organization that creates a living memorial to honor the service and sacrifice of the American military.
When you commit to run or walk on Friday, May 23, wear blue: run to remember will provide the name of a fallen service member who served since the first days of the Vietnam War. Together, we ensure the enduring remembrance of more than 65,000 fallen service members as we learn their stories, speak their names, and honor their legacies.
Please join us at East Madison Hospital for a Circle of Remembrance before the run/walk with light refreshments after. Families are welcome and encouraged to attend. Participants should meet at the entrance to the hospital outside near The Learning Kitchen. The event will be held rain or shine.
Participation is free, but we encourage you to register your miles with wear blue: run to remember. You will receive the name of a fallen service member to dedicate your steps. Honoring the fallen through purposeful steps is an act of gratitude that humanizes the loss of our military members and fosters healing. Register at wear blue.
Below are names of fallen military service members who will be remembered and honored by current ERG members.
John Bechtol, Improvement Advisor / US Army – Lieutenant Colonel
Running for US Army 1st Lieutenant Osbaldo Orozco, an Infantry Platoon Leader, killed in Iraq 04/25/2003. I trained Osbaldo while he was an ROTC student at California Polytechnic State University. Osbaldo was a star line-backer, captain of the university’s football team, and married his high school sweetheart upon graduation and starting his Army career.
Megan Donovan, Clinical Pharmacist / US Army – Captain, Military Spouse and Parent
Running in memory of CW2 George Swartzendruber, US Army, 3/1/66-2/27/91. Persian Gulf, Desert Storm, Purple Heart. He was a friend and fellow pilot of my husband’s.
Erica Fletcher, IS Project Manager / Wisconsin Army National Guard
Running in honor of Sgt Ryan Jopek, Wisconsin Army National Guard, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006
Laura Bradstreet, DNP, RN, PNP-BC / US Army – Nurse Corps, Captain
Honoring:
- SFC Adrian M. Elizalde (Army, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Airborne), KIA 23 Aug 2007 during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan
- SSG Matthew V. Thompson (Army, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Airborne), KIA 23 Aug 2016 during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq
- SPC Paul J. Sturino (Army, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment), KIA 22 Sept 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq
Scott Cheney, Director – IS & Informatics PMO / US Army – Lieutenant Colonel
Running in memory of Nils Thompson, Army , Nils Thompson was Killed in Action (KIA), on August 4th, 2005, in Mosul, Iraq.
Mark Jacoboski, UWH IS Sr. Project Manager / US Army – Captain, Persian Gulf War
Honoring Larry Barton -Army, Special Forces -Operation Iraqi Freedom
Rene Concordia, IS Project Manager / US Army – Major
Running in memory of:
- Paul R Bartz (Waterloo, WI), Lieutenant Colonel, US Army
- Thomas P Belkofer (Perrysburg, OH), Lieutenant Colonel, US Army
Both killed in Afghanistan, May 18, 2010, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom serving with the 10th Mountain Division.
Natalie Isensee, Manager – IS & Informatics Project Management Office / US Marine Corps, Captain
Honoring:
- Kevin Kryst, Captain, US Marine Corps, killed in Iraq
- Timothy McGovern, Captain, US Army, killed in Iraq