Rich on Running: Gold Star Race in memopry of Jared Raymond

In just over two weeks, on Sept. 29, the fourth annual Jared Raymond?s Gold Star Run for Honor will take place in Swampscott. The event honors the memory of Raymond, a Swampscott resident and Army Specialist killed in action during a tour of duty in Taji, Iraq, on Sept. 19, 2006. He was just 20 years old.This year, the Gold Star Run for Honor occurs at a moment when Americans are again reminded of the dangers that US personnel face overseas, in three separate embassy attacks in Libya, Egypt and Yemen, with the Libya attack claiming the life of US Ambassador Chris Stevens. All of the attacks occurred around the time of the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania in which almost 3,000 lives were lost.This year?s race is also the first one to occur since the end of the Iraq War.Raymond?s tribute race, which includes both a 10K run and a 5K run/walk, is a fundraiser in which all proceeds will benefit the Jared Raymond Scholarship Fund, which benefits graduating seniors at Swampscott High.Ashley Steeves of B&S Event Management, which organizes the race, credited Raymond?s mother, Jackie Raymond, with starting the race four years ago.?(It was) in honor of his memory, a celebration of his life,” Steeves said earlier this month, “and all other servicemen and women who are fighting for our country now. Others lost family members as well overseas serving our country.”The race course will include Jared Raymond Square in Swampscott, and Steeves said that town police officer Kevin Reen and recruits from his police academy have run by the square and done fitness breaks there during past races.?Every year, he brings his unit from the academy, his recruits,” Steeves said. “They run together, carry the flag, dressed in uniform. They run at the course, stop at points and do pushups.”Steeves actually envisions this race as part of a series of races honoring servicemembers who died in action.This past May, B&S held a Gold Star Run in Saugus honoring the late Cpl. Scott Procopio, who was killed in action in April 2006 in Ramadi, Iraq.?We are looking to expand the series,” Steeves said. “It will be the fourth year of Jared?s race, and we will be back in Saugus in May for the second anniversary of the Run for Scott.”Jared Raymond?s Gold Star Run for Honor starts at 9 a.m. at Swampscott High on Sept. 29, with race day registration ($25 for the 5K, $35 for the 10K) beginning at 7:30 a.m. You can also register online at active.com.?We invite all people – Army, Marine Corps, any servicemen and women out there – to come, run or walk,” Steeves said.Rich Tenorio can be reached at [email protected].