LITTLE FERRY, N.J. -- On June 5, more than 500 runners gathered to participate in what would seem to many like just another five-kilometer race.
But this race was anything but ordinary as just about the whole town came together to organize the first Sgt. Matthew Fenton Memorial Run.
Sgt Matthew Fenton, a Little Ferry native, died from injuries sustained after a roadside bomb exploded near the vehicle he was riding in while deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“This was a great event to honor Matt Fenton,” said Ralph Verdi, chief of police, Little Ferry Police Department. “This took a lot of cooperation from everybody involved, from the police department, fire department, city council and emergency response team. No money was spent to put this together.”
The idea began with Tom Sarlo, a Little Ferry city councilman. Sarlo is an avid runner and wanted to hold a race in his town.
“I wanted to have an event like this here and once we decided to have it in honor of Matt everybody got involved,” Sarlo said. “All the departments in the city got involved making sure this would happen and it was a great way for the community to come together.
“We started advertising in running magazines, made a website, sent emails to everyone I know who runs in races, and sent applications to every resident here. It was a small idea that became a big event.”
Marines from Recruiting Station New Jersey also took part in the run with local Marines just home from boot camp and poolees, the high school seniors and graduates who have signed their enlistment contracts and are waiting to attend Marine boot camp.
“I thought it was a great way to support a Marine and it was an honor for me to come out and support something like this,” said Max Warner, a poolee with Recruiting Substation Hackensack, N.J.
“This was a great event to honor Sgt. Matthew Fenton and all the Marines who have come before us and paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Staff Sgt. Arnold Sosa, recruiter, RSS Hackensack. “Marines from all over came to this event to show their support.”
Before the race began, a Marine color guard presented the colors as the national anthem played. As they presented the colors, standing behind them was the mother of Fenton, Diane Fenton.
“It’s just overwhelming for me that so many people participated to honor Matt,” she said. “It’s been five years and it shows he has not been forgotten by the community. I hope this event also brings more awareness to the other young people who are still serving in the armed forces.”
Fenton holds the title of honorary Little Ferry police officer, something he wanted to pursue after he got out of the Marine Corps.
“At his wake, we presented his mother with the number 41 shield, which has been retired,” Verdi said. “No other officer will ever carry that number because its Matt’s number. It was issued and immediately retired. He always wanted to be a police officer, so we had to make him one.”
Before he was made an honorary police officer, he was a Marine.
“When I found out they were going to organize this event, I cried,” Diane said. “I greatly appreciate the Marines for coming out here to show their support. If there was one thing that he was really proud of, it was being a Marine.”
Proceeds from the race are going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.