On its way from Watertown to Schuylerville in a four-day, 200-plus-mile tribute to those who’ve died in military service to America, participants in the 2023 New York Run for the Fallen stopped in Sharon Springs Saturday for ceremonies on the front lawn of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center.
As they waited for the group to arrive, Wal-Mart associates took turns reading through a list of more than 1,300 names, starting with CRD Joseph Acevedo, April 13, 2003, UNN at 2pm and ending with PO3 Daniel Zurita, October 20, 2002, USN, nearly three hours later, to “honor their selfless sacrifice and remember them individually by name, Run for the Fallen’s Mission.
Special recognition Saturday went to the Gold Star family of Sergeant John J. Ferrara II of Gloversville, who died March 15, 2023; his mother and stepfather, Cathy and James Wallace, were on hand to accept an Honor and Remember flag in his honor.
Sergeant Ferrara, 40, served two tours in Afghanistan as part of the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry before retiring last July and was pursuing a degree on Canine Training and Management when he died.
Also recognized was a second member of the Wal-Mart Distribution “family,” Carl Molinaro, who died under the rubble of 9/11 when he was just 32.
“We’re so part of this,” said Rita Franko, human resources manager at Wal-Mart Distribution, beforehand, “It’s a very moving ceremony. It’s impossible not to tear up.”
Kristi Mangine, veteran, USARNG, assistant director of Run for the Fallen’s NYS chapter, spoke to their mission of remembering those who lost their lives serving, individually, by name.
“Many of us here today served in the military,” she said speaking to the crowd.
“We know why the flag flies.”
Featured speaker was SSG Guillermo Castillo, 2023 IBSF Para-Sport World Cup Champion, a US para-bobsled athlete and captain of Team USA.
Like many, SSG Castillo said, he joined the military immediately after 9/11.
During his second deployment, his truck was struck by an IED.
His driver and gunner were killed and he lost a leg, suffered a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress.
All of that weighed heavily on him, he said, as he tried to live a life worthy of surviving the attack; he attempted suicide twice before getting involved in the Para-Olympics.
“I served with your sons and daughters,” he said. “Here we are, saying their names across New York State.
“What would they want? They’d want us to be good people. To be caring. For us to teach our kids about the flag. This is all they want. This is what we fight for.”