A lunch gala celebrating the Honoring Our Heroes Marathon of 2023 and distribution of proceeds raised was held March 8 at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory. Attendees were able to enjoy great food and even greater company – a community gathered to honor its veterans and local veteran groups, who received over $30,000 in donations.
The Honoring Our Heroes Marathon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—every member is a volunteer, and it was established to promote tourism to Salem and Dent County, and most importantly to honor and benefit veterans in the area. David Weiss, Heroes Marathon board member and gala emcee, shared that over the past eight years, the organization has achieved its goals—with over six hundred participants in the marathon in 2024 from 26 different states.
Weiss announced that proceeds raised from the marathon of 2023, which would be divided among all recipients, totaled $34,000 in donations. Including the donations distributed at the lunch gala, $162,000 has been raised in total by the Honoring Our Heroes Marathon for local veteran groups and organizations, shared Weiss.
This is the ninth year of the Honoring Our Heroes Marathon, which runs from Salem to Rolla for the purpose of honoring those who served and organizations and charities dedicated to serving them in return.
Before the gala began, the organizers for the event provided everyone with icebreaker bingo cards, encouraging all those attending to socialize with each other and get to know their fellow veterans and community members. Those who filled out the cards completely put their cards into a basket for a drawing to win a prize.
Weiss expressed his heartfelt thanks and gave a round of applause to the veteran based organization American Volunteers for helping provide and serve food to gala attendees.
Hawk Phelps then sang the National Anthem for all attendees to enjoy. Phelps has helped pass out refreshments to runners along the course in the past and has even participated in the 5k. He has also volunteered for the organization for several years, informed Weiss. After singing the National Anthem, Phelps thanked all the veterans for their service.
Weiss thanked all sponsors and volunteers that helped during 2023’s marathon, and for their incredible generosity. He also thanked all those that served on the board, as well as founder Bob Gravely, who was recently honored by the Missouri Attorney General.
Weiss also thanked house of representatives’ Ron Copeland, Bennie Cook, Tara Peters, Don Mayhew, Bill Hardwick, and Senator Justin Brown for their contributions to the flags along Highway 72.
A brief overview of the previous marathon was provided, along with some photos, from November of 2023. On Nov. 17, participants gathered at the event center to carb load and pick up race materials. Representative Bill Hardwick provided opening remarks, followed by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Mike Sakalauski, and navy veteran Sid Busch.
Then, early the next morning, folks began the start of the race from Dent County Commons in Salem to Lion’s Club Park in Rolla. There were plenty of options for runners and walkers to choose from during the event, including a full marathon, half marathon, relay, 10k, 5k, or even a half-mile Honor Walk around the lakes at Lion’s Club Park in Rolla. The Honoring Our Heroes courses are also certified as qualifiers for the Boston Marathon.
Overall, the marathon of 2023 was a success, said Weiss, and the board is hoping to do even better in 2024.
Each year, volunteers line the course, providing water, snacks and support to runners. In recognition of their contributions, water station awards were given at the gala, as well as honorary awards to notable supporters.
• The Founder’s Award was given to the biggest sponsor in the organization’s history, Titan Paving & Yard Drainage, for its continued support of the event.
• Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Susie Mackey, who has been with the organization since 2016. Mackey works tirelessly for the organization, said Weiss, working late nights and early mornings.
• The Most Enthusiastic Award went to the Rolla High School Key Club.
• The Best Music Award went to the American Volunteers.
• The Most Patriotic Award went to the American Legion Auxiliary.
• The Runner’s Choice Award went to Missouri Veteran’s Home of St. James.
• Special recognition was given to Sgt. Tony Lauth of the Rolla Police Department, who has helped with the marathon since its inception in keeping its runners safe and sound, rain or shine.
Finally, Weiss announced the recipients of donations, which included:
• Dent County Veteran’s Emergency Fund
• VFW Poppy Fund, also known as the Veteran’s Assistance Fund, which is used to help veterans with utility bills, transportation, and more.
• Assistance League for the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James
• Disabled American Veterans (D.A.V.) Chapter 49 of Waynesville
• Warrior In Need fund, maintained by the Association of the United States Army AUSA Mid Missouri Chapter in St. Robert.
• Missouri Patriot Paws of Rolla
• An additional donation was made to Mission 22, a national organization working to prevent veteran suicide.
Finally, before the conclusion of the event, a reminder was made that Memorial Day service would be held May 27 at Cedar Grove Cemetery.
For those wanting to take part in the cause, the next marathon will be held this year on Nov. 16—signups have already begun. You can follow along with the Honoring Our Heroes Marathon Facebook page, or register for the event at https://www.heroesmarathon.com/register.html.
