Sports
Six Races Form Suffolk Veterans' Series
Bellone announces series of races to include Suffolk marathon
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was joined by members of the Suffolk County Legislature, local military veterans and veterans advocates, the Greater Long Island Running Club, race directors and registered Suffolk County Marathon & Half Marathon runners to announce the 2015 Suffolk County Veterans Running Series.
The series will take place in various locations throughout Suffolk County, including East Northport, Lake Ronkonkoma, Oakdale, Northport and Lindenhurst.
“With the launch of the 2015 Suffolk County Veterans Running Series, we now have the opportunity to make an even bigger impact for our local veterans,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “I want to thank all those who helped make this series possible as it is our obligation to help provide our heroes with the services and assistance they need when they return home. We now have the opportunity to make an even bigger impact for our local veterans.”
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The series will serve as an opportunity for local veterans and residents to participate in local races, including the Suffolk County Marathon & Half Marathon on September 13, 2015, while helping to raise additional funds for local veteran service groups.
“The Murphy family is delighted that County Executive Steve Bellone has taken it upon himself to initiate the Suffolk County Marathon in support of all veterans and included the Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy 4-mile run around Lake Ronkonkoma in his veterans running series,” said Dan Murphy, father of the SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. “I have always found County Executive Bellone to be strongly supportive of our veterans community and committed to our Suffolk County veterans and their needs. This inaugural marathon is again evidence of that strong and continuing commitment to our veterans. Kudos to our County Executive Steve Bellone. “
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The following races are included in the 2015 Suffolk County Veterans Running Series:
May 23, 2015: The Annual Cpl. Christopher G. Scherer “I DID THE GRID” Run/Walk Pulaski Elementary School, East Northport
June 27, 2015: Lt. Michael P. Murphy 4-Mile Run Around the Lake, Lake Ronkonkoma
July 4, 2015: Firecracker 5k, Dowling College, Oakdale
September 12, 2015: Cow Harbor Warriors’ Captain Joseph J. Boccia Jr. USMC 4-Mile Warrior Run, Crab Meadow Beach Park, Northport
September 13, 2015: Suffolk County Marathon and Half Marathon to Support Our Veterans, Heckscher State, East Islip
November 7, 2015: Long Island Run for the Warriors, Lindenhurst
Veterans and residents who run or volunteer in all of the six races of the 2015 Suffolk County Veterans Running Series will receive a special, commemorative challenge coin.
Those who run or volunteer in a majority of the races in the running series will receive a commemorative participation medal.
“I thank County Executive Bellone for his vision, and I and my organization will be doing everything we can to make that incredible vision a reality by staging what will truly be a world class marathon here in Suffolk County,” said Mike Polansky, president of the Greater Long Island Running Club, race directors for the Suffolk marathon.
Information on the series and each of these races will be posted on www.suffolkmarathon.com, and will include the links to the pages of each participating race.
For more information, log on to www.facebook.com/stevebellone or www.suffolkcountyny.gov.