This year will mark Chattanooga’s fourth and final Heroes Run honoring the five servicemen killed in July 2015.
At a news conference Thursday, Erlanger Health Systems, the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County announced that this year’s event, to be held on July 13, will be the last as funding for the permanent memorial nears completion.
Between the $50,000 raised by the event over the years, the $250,000 donated by the city, $250,000 donated by the county and money donated directly to the memorial fund, the memorial is almost funded; it’s lacking around $70,000.
“The purpose of the Chattanooga Heroes run has always been to fund the permanent memorial in honor of these heroes,” said Christian Orth, Erlanger business development manager. “Once the memorial is finished, then our mission will be completed.”
It was started after the July 16, 2015, shooting attacks in which five men were killed. The attacks occurred at the Armed Services Recruiting Center on Lee Highway and the U.S. Naval Operational Support Center and Marine Corps Reserve on Amnicola Highway. The victims were U.S. Navy Petty Officer Randall Smith and Marines Thomas Sullivan, Carson Holmquist, Squire “Skip” Wells and David Wyatt.