Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger, center, speaks Wednesday as Chattanooga Mayor Andey Berke, right, and Erlanger CEO Kevin Spiegel, left, look on.Chattanooga Heroes Run/Walk
What: A run to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the attacks of July 16, 2015. Proceeds will go toward construction of a permanent memorial at the Tennessee Riverpark.When: July 16. Race starts at 8 a.m. Shuttles start at 6 a.m.Where: Buses will take participants and spectators from Fifth and Palmetto streets to the starting line on Amnicola Highway at the U.S. Naval and Marine Reserve Center.More: Register at chattanoogaheroesrun.com for $35 or on-site for $45. The 1-mile kids run is $15.
A July 16 run/walk event to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the fatal shootings of five servicemen in Chattanooga will help fund the construction of a permanent memorial at the Tennessee Riverpark.
The Chattanooga Heroes Run/Walk, officially announced Wednesday, will be highlighted by a 5-mile course starting on Amnicola Highway at the U.S. Naval and Marine Reserve Center and following part of the path emergency personnel took that fateful day.
Erlanger hospital’s Level One Trauma Center is presenting the event, which will also connect with the Tennessee Riverwalk and take participants through the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus before ending on Fifth Street, just south of the Challenger Center.
Killed in the attack were four Marines – Sgt. Carson Holmquist, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Skip Wells and Staff Sgt. David Wyatt. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith was shot and died days later.
The families of the fallen five have chosen to use the proceeds from the event for the construction of the memorial.
“In the next few weeks, the city is going to announce the creation of a fund and steering committee to make sure there’s some kind of physical monument in this area at a prominent location where people can come and pray, think and celebrate the lives of our fallen heroes,” Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke said during the announcement at the Tennessee Riverpark. “This is a monumental event in our city’s history, and we want to make sure we commemorate it.”
Erlanger CEO Kevin Spiegel praised the hospital’s trauma team for coming up with the idea to hold a community event and said participating is a way to honor those who died, as well as the first responders.
“Everybody really came together that day, and it is a representation of how strong we are here in Chattanooga,” he said.
“What’s important about this particular event and was important on July 16 of 2015 was the coordinated effort of people coming together,” Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger added.
Buses will shuttle participants and spectators from the corner of Palmetto and Fifth streets to the start line for the race that begins at 8 a.m. There will also be a 1-mile kids run beginning at 10 a.m.
“Over the course of the next few weeks, we’re going to have a bunch of opportunities to think about what happened in our city 11 months ago,” Berke said, “and I think we’re really going to be able to find some meaning, both in what happened and in the way our community responded.”
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.
