Honoring all those who serve

Residents will be able to show their appreciation to the county’s first responders Friday during the second annual Honoring American Heroes 5k.

The event begins at 7 p.m. in front of the Fallon/Churchill Volunteer Fire Department firehouse. Registration opens at 6 p.m. and costs $35 for adults, $75 for a family of four and $10 for children 10 and under. Members of a first responder agency receive a $5 discount to registration.

There will be water, Gatorade and electrolyte-restoring ice pops available for people to keep cool. Angela Guthrie, the event’s coordinator, said the fire department will also provide ice cream. The department is also planning to run its hoses to give a cool spray for people to enjoy — Guthrie recalled last year’s 5k ended with people running through the water.

As another aspect of honoring the service personnel, an American flag will be run through the course. According to Guthrie, an active member of the Navy will start with the flag, a retired member of the Army will take it for a second leg, and a first responder will carry it to the finish. The three will each carry it one mile.

“Collectively, they’ll have run the 5k,” Guthrie said.

Along with the 5k, the first responder agencies will be on scene to give information about their department and show off their equipment. Guthrie said Care Flight hopes to land their helicopter near the start of the event; the police and fire departments also usually bring a few vehicles for people to look at.

Financial Horizons Credit Union hosts the 5k and raises money for first responder charities. Last year they made donations to the Fallon Police Department, Churchill County Sheriff’s Office, Care Flight and the fire department. This is part of the Pennies Count project, which collects donations to give back to the community and help charities.

“This has been one of our most successful projects,” Guthrie said of the 5k. “We want to give back to our community any way we can … we hope the community will help us do that.”