Registration
Now Open for Pvt. Heath Warner Memorial Run – Running to Remember
Canton,
OH – May 6, 2013 – The S. N. Warner Family Association is proud to announce
registration is open for the Pvt. Heath D. Warner Memorial Run – Running to
Remember. This is the sixth year anniversary for this special event. The race
was founded in honor of their son, Pvt. Heath D. Warner, who was killed on
November 22, 2006, in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
We
have many new changes to this year’s race to honor our fallen heroes over
Memorial Day Weekend. This year’s race will be partnering with the Jackson
Township Rotary’s Field of Heroes and Field of Honor which will be held from
Friday, May 24, 2013 through Memorial Day, Monday Day, May 27, 2013. This is a
spectacular visual display of 1,500 American Flags which will be displayed
across from Jackson Township Safety Center on Wales Road. These 3' x 5' flags
will stand 8 feet tall in perfect rows and columns across a field of green. Mr.
Warner states, “It is an honor to partner with the Jackson Rotary for such an amazing
opportunity for the greater Stark County area community to remember those who
have sacrificed so much for freedom and to honor these true heroes.”
Race
Facts:
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2013, Memorial Day Weekend
Registration: 6:30 AM
Opening: 7:30 AM
Time: 8:00 AM
4 Mile
and 2 Mile Races:
Starting Point: Jackson
High School
Finishing Point: Jackson Community Park by Safety
Center
Open
registration is through Friday, May 24, 2013 at 5 PM and the fee is $25 (same
day race registration is available for $35).
Other
important notes.
The S.
N. Warner is pleased to announce the addition of Navy Lt. Jason Manse’s banner
to the Boulevard of Heroes located at the William McKinley Presidential Library
and Museum. The Boulevard of Heroes is a project funded by the Private Heath
Warner Memorial Fund. This project was started three years ago. A banner
honoring the fallen from Stark County from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars are
hung on the light post along the boulevard in front of the McKinley Monument.
Last year, we added our first Vietnam Veteran Army Ist. Lt. Sharon Lane. Flags
on the light poles and the banners are donated courtesy of the Warner family
through the Pvt. Heath Warner Memorial Fund are displayed from Memorial Day
through Labor Day.
In
addition, in keeping with the S. N. Warner Family Association mission of By Living
Deeply and Caring Generously We Will Changes Lives One at a Time, we have
partnered with the Solid Rock Therapeutic Riding Center to provide equine
therapeutic services for surviving military families and returning veterans
with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Warner family stated, “It is
important we provide services to help the families and veterans who have
suffered so much through these enduring wars. Enduring wars create enduring
pain and we believe the unconditional love from these special horses bring
healing that can change lives.” Recently, through the Pvt. Heath Warner
Memorial Fund, the family was able to rescue three horses from a kill sale for
meat slaughter. “We would like to introduce Courage, Heath Bar and Annie’s Hope
to the community. These three saddle bred beauties will be used exclusively for
surviving military families and returning veterans.”
“Running to Remember” Is Theme of Race
“We
founded the race to remember the sacrifice of our son, Pvt. Heath Warner, and
to honor all of the other fallen service men and women from Stark County,” said
Scott Warner, father of Pvt. Heath Warner and race director. “The race is a celebration of their lives and
that they will never be forgotten.”
“The
race will focus on the community spirit in remembering all of the fallen heroes
who have sacrificed their lives for freedom.
The theme of the race, “Running
to Remember,” will allow all of our participants and supporters to honor
and remember their special loved ones who selflessly served their country and
are being remembered on Memorial Day.”
The race
is an Elite Race of the Ohio Subway
Challenge Series will be Chronotrack Systems timed. Awards will be given to the 4 and 2 mile overall
top three male and female winners and age group winners. Participants are invited to stay after race
for the Opening Ceremony for the Field of Heroes and Field of Honor which be at
10 AM in Jackson Senior High School.
For
more information about the race, please contact Scott Warner at 330-280-6350,
or by email at pvtheathwarner@yahoo.com.
About Pvt. Heath D. Warner
Born
on Jan. 2, 1987. Parents are Scott and
Melissa Warner and brothers are Chandler and Ashton Warner of Canton,
Ohio. Attended Worley Elementary, Canton
Christian Academy and was a 2005 graduate of McKinley Senior High School. Completed certificate in Drafting from Timken
Vocational Campus. Hobbies included
break dancing, foreign language including German, Japanese and Arabic. Love of
different cultures, foods and the martial arts.
Enjoyed reading, hanging out with his friends and family. Enlisted in the delayed entrance program of
the Marines in Fall 2004. He joined the
pool of the new recruits and began preparing to become a Marine. Heath joined
the Marines for all the right reasons...love of God, love of family and a love
of country. After graduating in 2005,
Heath left for basic training at Paris Island, South Carolina. He graduated on Nov. 18, 2005. Once that training was completed, Heath
received additional training for SOI (school of infantry training) at Camp
Legune in North Carolina. After
successfully completing this training, Heath was stationed at Kaneohe Bay,
Hawaii, were he received his desert training to prepare for his deployment in
Iraq. Heath was deployed on September
11, 2006, for Iraq. On Nov. 11, 2006,
Heath was killed in action when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb. He was 19 years old.
