Marine corps and other residents took to the streets for a 5K run to commemorate victims of Sept. 11 and the Iraqi War.
Money raised from the event will go toward the purchase of a sterling silver tray to be placed on an assault ship that will be named the USS New York. The ship will be partly built using steel from the twin towers, and the serving tray will be engraved with the names of fallen servicemen and women from Long Island and greater New York.
More than 400 runners signed up for the event. Some participants like the Scherer family from East Northport, were motivated to take part in the run by personal loss. Their family member, Corp. Christopher G. Scherer, was killed in Iraq on July 21.
?The whole family got together today, it's something we want to do,? said Scherer?s father, Tim. ?We really still support the Marine Corps. My son was a very happy Marine. It was unfortunate what happened, but he was a great kid, and we'd like to just do something for him now.?