5th Annual Veterans Memorial 5K Race Hosted
by American Legion Post 29
On May 25, 2019, the Horace Orr American Legion Post
29 (Post 29) hosted the 5th Annual Veterans Memorial
Net proceeds from the Race are designated for the Service
Military Initiative at the Shepherd Spinal Clinic in Atlanta, and
the Georgia National Guard Foundation.
Post 29 is part of the federally chartered veteran services
in Marietta, Georgia. The year 2019 also marks the 100th
Beascoechea served as the Deputy Race Committee Chair. The
Veterans Memorial 5K Race (Race) continues to be a wonderful
work and commitment of many Legion members, volunteers and
participants, as well as the generous support of great sponsors.
events which included an American Legion Riders motorcycle
Concert on May 16, 2019, at the Strand Theater.
Special guests at the Race included members of The Shepherd’s
Men, an awesome group who raise awareness about suicide
injuries in association with the Shepherd’s Center in Atlanta.
Leadership from the Georgia National Guard (GNG), including
Randall Simmons, Commanding General of the Georgia Army
and members, led the way for the Race this year as a show of
support for the Georgia National Guard Foundation (Foundation).
donations and fundraising events to provide emergency relief
10 | June 2019 | Real Hero Report
BG Randall
Simmons,
Race
Committee
Chairman
Tom Bell,
and MG Tom
Carden enjoy
catching up
after the race.
Runners gather at the
starting line for the
5th Annual Veterans
Memorial 5K Run/
runners at the event,
almost 100 runners
in Afghanistan
participated in the
actual race in real
time.
assistance to current members of the GNG facing unexpected
The Georgia National Guard Recruiting and Retention Team
(R&R Team), one of the sponsors of the event, did an outstanding
job through their participation. The R&R Team also facilitated
a special part of the event by coordinating a live simulcast with
GNG troops deployed in Afghanistan. Runners, supporters and
family members also had the opportunity to exchange greetings
prior to the Race.
Almost 100 runners in Afghanistan then participated in the
has run the Race in prior years. He and 1SG Andy Keene led the
way for their troops (in two different Afghan locations) this year.
After the opening ceremony of the Race, which included
remarks by Cusick, Bell, Carden, Simmons, and Cobb County
Marietta Daily Journal as saying,
“It’s an honor and privilege to be halfway around the world and
hometown heroes, the American Legion Post 29 and the Georgia
Following the Race, a military appreciation celebration
was held, featuring the Georgia Symphony Orchestra which
The event was well attended and appreciated by all as a great way
American
Legion Post 29
Cusick, addresses
the crowd. The
Flag Guard are
Legion Members
from Post 29.