Faces told the story on Saturday, Nov. 15 as 745 participants from around the globe united in purpose to honor Veterans at the Honoring Our Heroes Marathon Event. Forty-nine states had runners and walkers participating in person or virtually; and for the first time in the event’s ten-year history, a satellite Heroes Marathon was held overseas at an Army installation, where 54 US Soldiers ran a half-marathon.
Veteran Neal Oshel’s face broke out in a big smile as Michael Hachmeister of Maryland Heights, Missouri crossed the finish line at Rolla’s Lions Club Park, then presented his half marathon finisher’s medal to Neal. Neal served his country in the 1970’s at NATO Arctic Warfare training in Tromso, Norway. Neal’s wife, Linda, describes him as a giant of a man; the two have been married 43 years. Native Kansans, Linda and Neal, had just moved to a new country home in Salem to be closer to grandkids when tragedy struck on Nov. 21, 2024.
A massive stroke left Neal in ICU for weeks; Linda was told Neal would be total care/vegetative state. One year later, with the help of medical care and physical therapy, Neal is making progress toward learning to walk again. After presenting the medal to Neal, Michael pushed Neal’s wheelchair to the course, to see Neal’s “Hero Of The Mile” sign, one of eighty signs honoring individual veterans.
“Michael is our angel,” stated Linda.
Misha Knea’s face reflected joy as she crossed the half marathon finish line.
“I do a lot of events across the country, and this one was amazing! What a fabulous community—the volunteers are just incredible. I will definitely be back to run again next year!” Misha said.
Misha, from Sisters, Oregon, is the CEO of Mission22, a national organization fighting a war against the estimated twenty-two per day veteran suicides. Misha spoke at the Pasta Dinner/EXPO the evening before the race, attended by about 220 guests, with the meal donated by The Lord’s Kitchen food truck.
Bob Gravley’s face shone as he completed his tenth Heroes Event, accompanied by his daughter Kim and her husband Steve from Alaska. Bob completed the full marathon the first three years, then switched to the 10K so he could walk with his grandchildren.
Bob will turn 89 years of age on Dec. 22, and the Heroes event was his idea, after finishing his first marathon at age 79 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The 26 miles from Salem to Rolla is the perfect marathon distance, Bob reasoned, and thus began the volunteer effort that has grown each year. Over $200,000 has been donated to local veteran’s charities since Heroes began; the organization became a 501c3 nonprofit charity in 2019.
Awe was evident on the faces of a cluster of 5K participants as two huge Rolla Fire Department ladder fire trucks hoisted a massive U.S. flag, creating a beautiful arch for runners to run under just before the finish line in the beautiful park, as the crowd enjoyed a perfect 75 degree, sunny day.
Marathon winner John Boyle’s face shone with relief after running from the Dent County Commons—the full 26.2 miles. John is 26 years of age and from Waynesville: this was his first Heroes marathon. John’s name will be inscribed on the four-foot tall Governor’s trophy sponsored by Gov. Mike Kehoe and funded by Goldstein & Price of St. Louis.
The trophy was dedicated at the Pasta dinner by State Representative John Hewkin. Seated with Hewkin at dinner were Rolla’s Economic Developer Dawn Bell, State Representatives Tara Peters and Don Mayhew, and previous State Representative Ron Copeland. Ron is a Heroes board member and spearheaded the two hundred US Flags that lined the marathon course along the west side of Highway 72 during the event.
Registration for the 2026 Heroes event begins Nov. 18, 2025 at www.Heroesmarathon.com, and many are training now to walk, jog, run, and or ruck a distance between a half-mile Honor walk to the full 26.2 miles.
States Board President Richard LaBrash, stated, “Volunteers are always welcome; our board meets monthly as we strive to meet our three goals of boosting tourism, promoting health, and especially, to honor and benefit our veterans and active military. We will never be able to thank enough all of our sponsors, local law enforcement, first responders, MoDOT, each and every volunteer, and all of our participants for joining us to honor our Heroes.”
