NJ Run for the Fallen Stops, Recalls Sacrifices Made by Service Members

COLD SPRING – The students of Sandman Consolidated School lined Seashore Road waving flags, attired in patriotic colors, as they awaited the band of military runners participating in the N.J. Run for the Fallen Sept. 22. 
The 190-mile run from Cape May Point to Holmdel ended Sept. 25 by the state’s Vietnam Memorial off Garden State Parkway. It started at 8 p.m. in the state’s southernmost borough. From there, runners stopped about every mile to honor a fallen New Jersey military member.
At Sandman, the students went into fever pitch when the runners approached and finally stopped amid the boys and girls who pressed close to get a glimpse of the military personnel.
The school band performed the “Star Spangled Banner” as all stood at attention. Following quickly after that was a remembrance of Capt. Brian R. Faunce.
The Ocean native and Army officer was 28 on Sept. 18, 2003, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom when he gave his life. He was electrocuted by a low-hanging wire hidden among trees while he traveled in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle northwest of Baghdad.
Given first aid, he later died in a military hospital. He was involved in a chase of hostile Iraqis who were seen tampering with a disabled armored vehicle.
With a tight schedule to keep, runners had to depart quickly, students shook their hands or hugged some before the time to remember ended.
The runners continued north on Seashore Road to the Tabernacle Road crossover to Route 9. From there, they headed to Lower Cape May Regional High School.
There, the students and faculty gathered around a memorial to Sgt. Michael O, Scusa, a 2005 graduate of Lower Cape May Regional High School.
The runners saluted and recited Scusa’s name.
Scusa was assigned to a combat outpost in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on Oct. 3, 2009. The complex was attacked by an estimated 400 enemy forces.
Knowing that his unit was under fire, Scusa left the safety of the barracks to resupply the guard points with ammunition.
He twice ran through over 300 feet of heavy enemy fire. Disregarding his safety, Scusa then went to resupply soldiers from other sections and platoons. He was killed in action from an enemy sniper.
As a result of his and the unit’s actions, the enemy forces were destroyed.
After paying respects to Scusa, the team of military runners from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst headed to other locations on the northward trek to honor every New Jersey service member killed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn and other conflicts.
Each mile was dedicated to a fallen New Jersey hero and their Gold Star family. The run team stopped at each Hero Marker to present a flag and personalized biographical card to waiting family members, friends, and comrades with the goal of creating an 188-plus mile memorial trail through New Jersey.