Marine Aviation Training Support Group (MATSG) 53 hosted the first Major Megan McClung Memorial Run on Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Sept. 15.

Maj. McClung, 34, of Coupeville, Wash., died Dec. 6, 2006 in Ramadi, Iraq and was the first female Marine officer to be killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This form of remembrance was used because she was an avid marathon runner and six-time Ironman competitor. 

“The idea for the run initially came from Maj. McClung’s parents, who reside in Coupeville,” said Col. William Flannery, MATSG-53 commanding officer. “We decided we wanted to do a run to raise money, when we found out she was a big runner and she’d put on a marathon over in Iraq to correspond with the Marine Corps Marathon.  MATSG-53 then asked her parents where they would like the funding to go and they decided it should go to the Wounded Marine Fund.”

Being that this was the first time the event was held, the command looked to the community to help with the organization from people who have experience with events like this.

Approximately 180 participants from NAS Whidbey Island and the local communities had the option to compete in either a five kilometer or 10 kilometer portion of the run which was used to raise funding for the Wounded Marine Fund. The run was kicked off by Maj. McClung’s father, Michael, sounding a fog horn to start the race. 

“This is all new ground, so we got a lot of help to put this together,” said Flannery. “We got donations from local businesses and a local gentleman in the area who helped us with the organization.”

Michael McClung feels the event is a good way to support the Marines in ways that aren’t normally available to them.

“We’re here to provide them with things that can’t be provided to them otherwise,” said Michael. “Transportation for family members to visit their wounded children isn’t provided so we, through the Wounded Marine Fund, are providing help and services to allow the families to visit.”

Some Sailors, like Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class (AW/NAC) Michael Glidewell, of NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, used the run not only to help the cause, but also as an opportunity to help in training for the Marine Corps Marathon as part of the Whidbey Island Marathon team, Oct. 28.

The run was followed by an awards ceremony and a raffle based on bib number.

“We run four times a week in preparation (for the Marine Corps Marathon), today we wanted to contribute so we did this as a sprint,” said Glidewell. “I also run for the Armed Forces Foundation to raise them money.  It’s awesome to raise money for other people in the military. I love contributing.”