Audio Clip
A Genesee County soldier and his wife plan to honor fallen members of the armed forces Saturday morning, with a march in memory of men and women who have given their lives for country.
Richard Dunkley is a second lieutenant in the Army National Guard. He and his wife modeled the march after a similar event in Tennessee.
"I was inspired by an article I read about a master sergeant in Tennessee who, after coming back from Iraq, felt the need to go out and honor his fallen soldiers. So he went out with a flag and his uniform, and started marching. He dedicated one mile to each soldier. They lost nine soldiers on his tour in Iraq."
Lieutenant Dunkley says the length of Saturday's march didn't originally have special meaning, but after planning the 13-mile route, something came to light that makes the tribute even more meaningful.
"Coincidentally, throughout the planning of this, and working with different people in my battalion as well as outside, independent organizations that help support families of fallen soldiers, we had discovered that my battalion, the 125th Infantry Battalion, has lost to date 13 soldiers."
Lieutenant Dunkley says anyone is welcome to join the march at nine o'clock Saturday morning, at VFW Post 4642 in Linden. They'll walk to Great Lakes National Cemetery in nearby Holly Township.
He says he's been thinking about his own upcoming deployment to Afghanistan while planning this tribute.
"I want to make sure that, you know, before myself and other soldiers are being deployed, that we honor those who have given their lives before us in both past and present conflicts. I feel it's heartfelt that we should honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms."
A potluck is expected to follow the march, and marchers are encouraged to bring a dish to pass.
Richard Dunkley is a second lieutenant in the Army National Guard. He and his wife modeled the march after a similar event in Tennessee.
"I was inspired by an article I read about a master sergeant in Tennessee who, after coming back from Iraq, felt the need to go out and honor his fallen soldiers. So he went out with a flag and his uniform, and started marching. He dedicated one mile to each soldier. They lost nine soldiers on his tour in Iraq."
Lieutenant Dunkley says the length of Saturday's march didn't originally have special meaning, but after planning the 13-mile route, something came to light that makes the tribute even more meaningful.
"Coincidentally, throughout the planning of this, and working with different people in my battalion as well as outside, independent organizations that help support families of fallen soldiers, we had discovered that my battalion, the 125th Infantry Battalion, has lost to date 13 soldiers."
Lieutenant Dunkley says anyone is welcome to join the march at nine o'clock Saturday morning, at VFW Post 4642 in Linden. They'll walk to Great Lakes National Cemetery in nearby Holly Township.
He says he's been thinking about his own upcoming deployment to Afghanistan while planning this tribute.
"I want to make sure that, you know, before myself and other soldiers are being deployed, that we honor those who have given their lives before us in both past and present conflicts. I feel it's heartfelt that we should honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms."
A potluck is expected to follow the march, and marchers are encouraged to bring a dish to pass.
