Soldier Marathon serves as a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice

“I’ve seen firsthand this is not just another race. For many it is healing, therapy and a way to honor those soldiers who have paid the price for our freedom.” --Jay Mason, 2013 Soldier Marathon runner

Janet Crane was fighting to finish the race. Her right knee was hurting, but her heart was broken.

It was November 2013, and Crane was making the final gut-wrenching steps of the Soldier Marathon, a 26.2-mile test of fitness and endurance.

As she neared the finish line alongside the National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center, she had more than 26 of those miles behind her and an avenue lined with flags in front of her.

All she could think about was her only son, Spc. Jason K. Edens, who died on April 26, 2012, from wounds suffered 11 days earlier after being hit by small arms fire in Laghman Province, Afghanistan.

A part of her died with her son. But nearly 19 months later, another part of her was running with purpose.

And as she struggled to finish in more than 4 hours and 50 minutes, she was talking to Jason almost every step of the way.

"I talk to him a lot when I run," she said.

As she entered the final stretch, she noticed three men. It was obvious from their dress they were drill sergeants. They had been talking to her husband and knew the story.

Jay Mason, a runner and one of Crane's friends, was watching.

"Before she made it to the finish line, she saw the poster of her son being held up by some soldiers in uniform," Mason wrote in the 2013 email. "As she came down the Hall of Flags, those soldiers ran with her down to the finish line -- of course, she cried all the way."

Crane remembers what they said as they fell into formation with her.

"One of them said this was a special privilege," Crane said. "They appreciated the sacrifice and what I was doing to honor that memory."

On Saturday, Crane and about 2,000 other runners will be doing the sixth Soldier Marathon, which starts and finishes at the National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center and in the middle runs through parts of Fort Benning, Columbus and Phenix City.

Crane won't be the only one running in the memory of a soldier who has been lost in war. Second Lt. Angie DiMattia makes certain of that.

For the last five years, DiMattia has compiled a list of fallen soldiers and assembled biographical sketches of the men and women lost.

As she compiles the list this year -- there are about 30 soldiers on it -- she often pauses.

"There are times I will just take a minute and pray for them and their families," she said.

As runners register for the marathon, half-marathon and 5K runs, they can pick a name. That name is put on a race bib they will wear during the run.

Melissa House is not one of the runners who will have to grab a random name compiled by DiMattia. A West Point graduate who spent six years in the Army and another nine in the reserves, House lives in Midland with her husband, Col. Ed House, who retired in June.

House admits she has a love-hate relationship with running, but that the Soldier Marathon is about so much more than running to her.

"It's emotional to me," she said. "It's about doing something for somebody, not just me. I can do this because I'm here; they can't."

There will be at least five names on House's back Saturday, and she is connected to each one:

Maj. Steve Long, killed on Sept. 11, 2001, at the Pentagon: "I worked with him early in 2001 at the Army Personnel Center," House said. "I knew him when we left D.C. in June of 2001."

Sgt. Maj. Lacey Ivory, killed on Sept. 11, 2001, at the Pentagon: "I worked with Sgt. Maj. Ivory's wife in D.C.," House said.

Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland, killed on Sept. 11, 2001, at the Pentagon: "My husband was in the Old Guard when we first went to D.C. because he was in the Old Guard Association," House said. "I also knew his wife from Fort Belvoir."

Lt. Noah Harris of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, died June 18, 2005, from injuries suffered in an attack in Baqubah, Iraq: House has gotten to know Harris' parents, Patrick and Lucy Harris, who live in Ellijay, Ga., since Harris' death. The connection was through Harris' company commander, Capt. Bobby Toon, a good friend of House's husband.

Capt. Joel Cahill, of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, was killed Nov. 6, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee in Dawr, Iraq: House's husband worked with Cahill, and when he came home in the summer of 2005, Cahill was the one who drive him to the airfield.

"They gave their lives," House said. "There is nothing much more honorable than that."

Race director Cecil Cheves said the memorial aspect of the race is one of the things that sets it apart.

"Giving family members and friends an opportunity to do something in honor of someone who paid the ultimate sacrifice, that's been a special part of our race, and it continues to be," he said.

It's special for DiMattia, too. And every year it creates a moment that gives her pause.

"I will be sitting at the table and one of the families of a soldier will come up to get their race bibs," she said. "Every time -- and it happens without fail -- I will have to excuse myself and walk away to collect myself."

Team Jason, led by Crane, will be back in the race this year, as it has been every year since his death. But this year, Crane is taking a different approach. She is the member of a closed Facebook support group that includes about 50 mothers who lost their only child.

"Some of these were not killed in action. A lot of these children were PTSD suicides," Crane said. "Some could have been an accident when they were back home. But they were all active duty."

The 14 members of Team Jason will be running with the names of those military personnel on their backs.

"The names of these children do not get represented," Crane said. "If you are killed in action you go on the Military Times website -- those are the names that go on the walls and memorials. Their names are not there. I felt like they need to be remembered, too."

For Mason, the runner who watched the emotional moment two years ago involving Crane's finish, the race boils down to a name on his back.

"All I can tell you about this race is my experience," said Mason, who works in a civilian job at Fort Benning. "For me it is an honor to run with Jason's name on my back."

IF YOU GO:

What: Qualifier for the Boston Marathon, but also a kids marathon that finishes Friday night, and a half marathon and 5K on Saturday morning.

When: Saturday. Start time is 7:30 a.m.

Where: National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center, 1775 Legacy Way; course covers Fort Benning and Chattahoochee RiverWalk, so if you want to cheer, grab a spot at the museum or down by the RiverWalk.

Cost: Prices for the runs vary

Information: www.soldiermarathon.com

This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 9:56 PM with the headline "Soldier Marathon serves as a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice."