HOULTON, Maine — A group of 59 runners and walkers gathered Sunday morning to honor the memory of a fallen soldier during the fifth annual SFC Aaron Henderson Memorial 5K.
Teanne Ewings of Houlton was the top race finisher as she cruised over the cross-country style course in 19 minutes, 4.2 seconds. Grace Graham of Amity was a close second at 19:12. Jason Russell of Amherst was the first male finisher at 19:57.9.
Participants in the SFC Aaron Henderson Memorial Run stand at attention for the playing of the National Anthem Sunday morning in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr image)
“We want to thank everyone for joining us today,” said Jonathan Kelley of Competitor ME. “I have searched for the right words to put today into perspective and it’s tough. Words like honor, courage, warrior and hero come to mind, but don’t seem enough to convey the weight of today.”
SFC Henderson died Oct. 2, 2012, from wounds sustained after an improvised explosive device attack in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
“Many of you are here today because you knew Aaron and the entire weekend has been about carrying on his legacy,” Kelley said. “There have been lots of great memories shared over laughs and tears.”
Kelley presented No. 1 running bibs to Henderson’s mother Christine, brother Sam and sister-in-law Kiley Henderson prior to the start of the race.
PT-5K6-33-19.jpg 8/12/2019 9:07:07 AM Ben Drew, formerly of Houlton, carries a rucksack as he participates in Sunday’s SFC Aaron Henderson Memorial Run. (Joseph Cyr image)
In addition to the 59 runners and walkers at Sunday’s event, an additional 100 walkers and runners signed up as “virtual runners” representing 20 different states.
The top 10 results from the race are: 1, T. Ewings, 19:04.20; 2, Graham, 19:12.0; 3, Russell, 19:57.9; 4, Tim Williams, Linneus, 21:44.9; 5, Jessica Casavant, Presque Isle, 21:54.1; 6, Douglas Bailey, New Limerick, 22:12.3; 7,Ellen Lincoln, Houlton, 23:12.5; 8, Adam Bell, Ludlow, 23:22.8; 9, Kiley Henderson, Houlton, 23:27.3; 10, Calli Sylvia, Houlton, 23:27.7.
The complete results can be found at the Competitor ME website.
Johnathan Kelly, right, of Competitor ME, presents race bibs to Christine Henderson, along with her son Sam and his wife Kiley prior to the start of Sunday’s SFC Aaron Henderson Memorial Run in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr image)
Runners bolt from the starting block Sunday for the SFC Aaron Henderson Memorial Run race in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr image)
Jason Russell of Amherst, Maine, was the first male finisher in Sunday’s SFC Aaron Henderson Memorial Run. (Joseph Cyr image)
