Community Corner

Veterans, Active Duty Military Needed for Memorial Day Weekend Tribute

Christian Haerter is looking for 48 people who served to greet Marines who are honoring the late Jordan Haerter and Joseph Theinert.

In honor of his son, Christian Haerter is organizing a tribute to a battalion that suffered 48 casualties in Iraq, but he needs the community's help.

Jordan's Initiative, a non-profit organization Haerter founded in memory of his son Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan C. Haerter, will host 35 members of the 3rd Battalion 25th Marines in Sag Harbor over Memorial Day weekend. 

The battalion lost 46 Marines and two Navy Corpsmen, making it one of the highest casualty rates of the Iraq war. 

On May 25, the 35 members visiting the South Fork will run from Montauk to Ground Zero "to pay tribute to their fallen comrades and to honor the sacrifice of my son Jordan Haerter and local hero Joey Theinert," Haerter said. Theinert, an Army lieutenant who grew up on Shelter Island, died in Afghanistan in 2010. Haerter died in Iraq five years ago.

Hope For The Warriors, a group that tries to enhance quality of life for US service members and their families who have been affected by injuries or death in the line of duty, has put on the Memorial 100 Relay Run, now in its fourth year. It was actually started by three Marines from 3/25 to honor the 48 members they lost during the 2005 deployment, according to the website. Members run five to 10 miles of the relay. 

The 136-mile relay begins at the Montauk Point Lighthouse at 7 a.m., run down Main Street in Sag Harbor, and cross the Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter Veterans' Memorial Bridge, where veterans will stand holding American flags. The relay ends 26 hours later at Ground Zero.

"In order to honor the runners and to pay tribute to our military heroes on Memorial Day we would like to have 48 military veterans hold flags along the bridge while the Marines go by," Haerter said. "The 48 flags will represent the 48 souls that were lost by the members of 3/25." 

Veterans or active duty military wishing to participate would need to be available between 10 and 11 a.m. If you are interested you may call Haerter at 631-725-2489.

Jordan's Initiative will supply the flags. "Afterwards the flags will be donated to the Village of Sag Harbor and they will fly proudly on our Main Street for years to come," he said. "If you are unable to participate here in Sag Harbor please make sure to stand along the running route and cheer them on as they pass."

Know a veteran who might be able to hold a flag on the bridge? Pass along the article to them. Just copy and paste the link into an email. 


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