Running or walking, time to be strong

July for all of us brings the celebration of freedom with our nation’s birthday.

Around here, in 10 days we will celebrate the sacrifice made for that freedom.

We will remember the Fallen Five and the homegrown extremist who took them from their families and forever put Chattanooga on the list of cities in which terror visited.

How do we explain to our children the hatred that makes people kill those providing their very security?

How do we internally temper the rage and wants of vengeance that haunted so many of us?

How do we comfort those who lost sons and husbands and daddys that day?

We know the slogan and we nod at the bumper stickers.

Chattanooga Strong. It echoes around us at random moments.

Let’s help the folks trying to carve our collective thoughts and well-wishes into a forever remembrance. How, you may ask? Check out the Chattanooga Heroes Run/Walk. (Go to www.chattanoogaheroesrun.com for everything from registration to course details).

“One hundred percent of our proceeds go to the fund for a permanent memorial on the Riverwalk,” said Christian Orth, one of the lead volunteers in charge of community outreach working with event director Liz Hedges.

Orth detailed that the memorial has received $750,000 from the city and the county.

There are other contributors too — and last year’s race raised more than $15,000 — but certainly we can do better, right? In fact, there are no reasons not to embrace the strength of Chattanooga’s debt to our heroes.

The run is a 5 miler for adults — a mile for each killed serviceman — and a 1 mile jaunt for the kids.

Out of shape? No sweat, they don’t keep times.

Out of town? No worries, you can sign up and do it wherever you may be if you sign in online and indicate you are out of town.

Heck, the three finalists who are being interviewed to craft the memorial — including an artist who was a finalist to do the World Trade Center memorial in New York City — will be at the run on July 15 to meet the public and show some of their previous works.

Whomever is chosen, we need to make sure the T’s are crossed and the checks are ready to be signed.

“I’ve been humbled to be a part of this,” Orth said of the effort. “I’ve been part of hundreds of events, and there are always moments in this to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“As for the community, we would love for more participation, especially this year, but the community in one word is resilient.

The community time and time again has stepped forward and let us know this is important to us, with donations — of goods and services to keep our expenses down.”

That’s great. Strong even. But is that Chattanooga Strong enough?

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343.