Fear & Loading: Honoring Fallen Coast Guard Heroes

They’re the rescuers who drop in out of the sky when the unthinkable happens, regardless of the danger. They arrive in boats, planes and helicopters, protect our shores and save lives every day, most often without gaining headlines for themselves or the Coast Guard in which they serve.

Unfortunately, some suffer serious injury and too many die performing that lifesaving work. The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced this week that it is partnering with individuals and organizations across the country to honor the Coast Guard’s fallen heroes. Members of the United States Coast Guard who have died in the line of duty will be remembered with walks, runs, bike rides and workouts, all in support of the Coast Guard Foundation’s Fallen Heroes Fund.
 
The Fallen Heroes Fund offers a support system for families in the wake of tragedy. If a service member is injured, becomes critically ill or is lost in the line of duty, the Foundation provides financial support to allow for their family to focus on recovery.
 
“The Foundation is honored to be a part of the Run to Remember movement,” said Susan Ludwig, president, Coast Guard Foundation. “We are thankful for all that participate in the events to honor these brave individuals who have died in service for our country, and to raise funds to support the scholarship program that helps their children achieve their dreams of a college education.”
 
In the last four years, the organization has benefitted from more than 50 races around the U.S., plus a cross-country bike ride and a climb to the top of Denali. Each February, a Workout to Remember event, held across the country, honors the memory of those lost in the CG-6505 helicopter crash on Sept. 4, 2008, in which all four Coast Guard air crew members perished.