Nearly 3,500 runners came out in full force to Ronkonkoma Saturday for a yearly event to remember a fallen Navy Seal.

The 13th annual "Run Around the Lake" is an event which honors Patchogue native  Lt. Michael Murphy who was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2005. Murphy, a Medal of Honor recipient, used to spend his summers swimming across Lake Ronkonkoma to prepare himself for training as a Navy SEAL. 

The race was first dedicated in 2005 to Murphy and the 18 other men who were killed during Operation Red Wings. 

They do it every year and it overwhelms me, not only with gratitude but just the idea that all these people come out on a hot summer day run 4 miles around a lake that Michael lifeguarded at," said Daniel Murphy, Michael's father.

Members of the Lakeland Fire Department, ran in full gear as a show of respect to heroes 9/11 and the War on Terror.

"It's great time," added Ryan Stutzenstein, Islip. "You're surrounded by a bunch of people that are all like-minded and they really appreciate our country and our men and women in uniform."

All the money raised from the race will also benefit several military charities, including a scholarship in Lt. Murphy's memory.