| Gold Star ceremony |
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| Dane R. Balcon; April 27, 1988 – Sept. 5, 2007 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher R. Thibodeau was killed in action May 26, 2011. His wife was just six weeks pregnant with their son, Liam. Liam Thibodeau, age 7, of Colorado Springs; Leesandra Thinodeau (Liamís mother) and Doreen Thibodeau of Cleveland, Ohio, were presented with a rose in honor of CW2 Thibodeau at the May 11 ceremony. |
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| The ceremony for the Gold Star families was held May 11 in Falcon. Post 2008 is named after Dane R. Balcon, who was killed in action in 2007. Dane was a graduate of Falcon High School. | Gold Star moms were given roses in honor of their fallen sons: pictured (left to right) Kareem Reinke, mother of Sgt. Gavin Reinke; Terry Chapman, mother of Tech Sgt. John A Chapman; Misi Moser, mother of Sgt. Joshua J. Robinson; and Nancy Pfander, mother of Cpl. Kyle Powell. |
| Pat Tillman fundraiser |
| On April 22, 2004, Pat Tillman was killed while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Tillman left his pro-football career with the Arizona Cardinals to join the service after 9-11. Initially, it has been reported that Tillman had been killed by enemy fire. But subsequent investigations determined his death was the result of friendly fire. The program supports active-duty service members, veterans and their spouses with academic scholarships, a national network, and professional development opportunities. Each year, the Pat Tillman Foundation Scholars program sponsors a 4.2 mile run/walk nationwide. The race this year took place in Falcon at the trailhead on April 27. |
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| Participants finished the 4.2-mile race in honor of Pat Tillman†near Farmerís State Bank. Jakís Brewing and Black Forest Brewing Co. provided bottled water to participants as well as a vendor for Arizona State University gear where Tillman attended. | Donovan Routsis (left), race captain, and Scott Davis, local business owner and president of the Arizona State Alumni of Southern Colorado Club celebrated the 15th annual Pat Tillman race and the first-ever hosted in southern Colorado. Tillman was an alumni of ASU. |
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| Courtney Crews of Colorado Springs and her sister-in-law, Megan Crews (baby Camille in stroller) of Falcon, pose for a picture on the Rock Island Trail Head where the race took place April 27. | The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association showed their support for the Pat Tillman 4.2 mile run on Saturday, April 27. They lined up and revved †their engines to get the crowd revved up! |
| Run for the Wall |
| The American Legion Riders Dane R Balcon Post 2008 and many others supported the Run for the Wall motorcycle riders, who traveled cross country to recognize veterans throughout the country. They came through Falcon May 18 on their way to Limon, and then on to their final destination ó Washington D.C. |
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| James Kendig from the American Legion Post 2008 shows his support for riders by holding a flag at Saturdayís procession. | The annual Run for the Wall event started in 1989. The riders take three routes from California to Washington D.C., where they meet at the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. Pictured here are riders from the most northen route ó the central route. There were about 640 riders registered for this route. |
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| Vietnam war veteran Bryan Johnson and his dog, Lucy, rode in to show their support for the Run for the Wall ride. |
