About 20 Missouri National Guardsmen were among the more than 1,000 people who participated in Saturday's 3rd annual Run for the Fallen at Gammon Field.
The 5-kilometer, non-competitive run was one of many held worldwide that honors all service members who have been killed in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as their Family members.
The run on post was attended by seven Families of service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice, including the family of Missouri Army National Guard Sgt. Denis D. Kisseloff, of St. Charles. Kisseloff died May 14 at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his assigned unit, the 1141st Engineer Company, of Kansas City, using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.
Fe Ariss, Kisseloff's sister, traveled all the way from her home in Chicago to be among the eight Family members that were a part of the opening ceremony.
“This is absolutely important for me to be here,” Ariss said. “It's for my brother.”
Until the Family had been invited, Ariss said she'd never heard of Run for the Fallen, but was impressed by its magnitude.
“It's overwhelming,” she said.
Ariss said events like this, where the names of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and
Marines who have been killed in combat are read aloud, are a good way to keep their memories alive.
“It's wonderful that the fallen service members don't get thrown by the wayside and become forgotten, especially for my brother,” Ariss said. “He just died and this brings back a lot of emotions. I think it's great for everyone and all the Family members who made it here, to be here to show support for all the Families.”
The rest of Kisseloff's family in attendance included his parents, Mike and Mila Kisseloff, his children, Serena and Aleksandr Kisseloff, his nephew, Michael Ariss, his niece, Chloe Ariss and a cousin, Samantha De Leon.
A member of the 1138th Engineer Company, of Farmington, Kisseloff had volunteered to deploy with the 1141st.
Kisseloff's former platoon leader with the 1138th, 1st Lt. James Senft, of St. Peters, was one of the Missouri Guardsmen to run in the event. Senft said he ran to honor his former troop.
“Knowing Sgt. Kisseloff, I came out here to support him, his Family and all of the fallen,” Senft said. “This is a great idea and everything is for a good cause. We don't ever want to forget about their sacrifice. One thing about the Army is we really need to take care of our own and we do.”
Senft said he only got to know Kisseloff for a few months, but called him an exemplary Soldier.
“He was very professional,” Senft said. “For the Guard, there are a lot of times when it's more difficult being that part-time Soldier. He was always very ready and prepared. He would always volunteer for any detail, even if
was a crummy detail.
“He'd be there and be very supportive of not only the Guard, but the unit itself.”
Among the other Missouri Guardsmen to participate in the run was Staff Sgt. Patti Parton, of the 35th Engineer Brigade on post. Parton said the event was a nice way to memorialize all service members who have given their all.
“I hope that if something were to happen to me that I would have support behind me - that my death wouldn't be in vain. It would be for a cause and somebody would support me in the smallest things like this,” Parton said. “I think most of all it shows the Families that people are still there for them.”
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About 20 Missouri National Guardsmen were among the more than 1,000 people who participated in Saturday's 3rd annual Run for the Fallen at Gammon Field.
The 5-kilometer, non-competitive run was one of many held worldwide that honors all service members who have been killed in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as their Family members.
The run on post was attended by seven Families of service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice, including the family of Missouri Army National Guard Sgt. Denis D. Kisseloff, of St. Charles. Kisseloff died May 14 at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his assigned unit, the 1141st Engineer Company, of Kansas City, using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.
Fe Ariss, Kisseloff's sister, traveled all the way from her home in Chicago to be among the eight Family members that were a part of the opening ceremony.
“This is absolutely important for me to be here,” Ariss said. “It's for my brother.”
Until the Family had been invited, Ariss said she'd never heard of Run for the Fallen, but was impressed by its magnitude.
“It's overwhelming,” she said.
Ariss said events like this, where the names of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and
Marines who have been killed in combat are read aloud, are a good way to keep their memories alive.
“It's wonderful that the fallen service members don't get thrown by the wayside and become forgotten, especially for my brother,” Ariss said. “He just died and this brings back a lot of emotions. I think it's great for everyone and all the Family members who made it here, to be here to show support for all the Families.”
The rest of Kisseloff's family in attendance included his parents, Mike and Mila Kisseloff, his children, Serena and Aleksandr Kisseloff, his nephew, Michael Ariss, his niece, Chloe Ariss and a cousin, Samantha De Leon.
A member of the 1138th Engineer Company, of Farmington, Kisseloff had volunteered to deploy with the 1141st.
Kisseloff's former platoon leader with the 1138th, 1st Lt. James Senft, of St. Peters, was one of the Missouri Guardsmen to run in the event. Senft said he ran to honor his former troop.
“Knowing Sgt. Kisseloff, I came out here to support him, his Family and all of the fallen,” Senft said. “This is a great idea and everything is for a good cause. We don't ever want to forget about their sacrifice. One thing about the Army is we really need to take care of our own and we do.”
Senft said he only got to know Kisseloff for a few months, but called him an exemplary Soldier.
“He was very professional,” Senft said. “For the Guard, there are a lot of times when it's more difficult being that part-time Soldier. He was always very ready and prepared. He would always volunteer for any detail, even if
was a crummy detail.
“He'd be there and be very supportive of not only the Guard, but the unit itself.”
Among the other Missouri Guardsmen to participate in the run was Staff Sgt. Patti Parton, of the 35th Engineer Brigade on post. Parton said the event was a nice way to memorialize all service members who have given their all.
“I hope that if something were to happen to me that I would have support behind me - that my death wouldn't be in vain. It would be for a cause and somebody would support me in the smallest things like this,” Parton said. “I think most of all it shows the Families that people are still there for them.”
