The Honor Run: A Decade of Remembrance

When asked recently about this years Heroes Run, United States Marshals Service (USMS) Director Gadyaces Serralta said, “The annual USMS Fallen Heroes Honor Run provides us an opportunity to reflect and pay our respects to our brothers and sisters who have fallen in the line of duty. Every step taken is a tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and service of the heroes across the law enforcement community who selflessly gave everything so others could live in safety.”  

For the U.S. Marshals Service, that courage, sacrifice, and service of the fallen hits many very personal when they remember the loss of not only a coworker, but a friend.

In 2011, it had been 11 years since a line-of-duty death in the U.S. Marshals Service — long enough for the pain to begin to fade and for a new generation of deputies to join the ranks of the nation’s first federal law enforcement agency. When that streak ended, it hit hard.​

That year, the USMS lost one Court Security Officer (CSO), Stanley Cooper, and two deputies: Derek Hotsinpiller of West Virginia and John Perry in St. Louis. In the years that followed, additional losses compounded the grief — Special Deputy Frank McKnight​ in 2014; Zacarias Toro in 2015 from complications dating back to 9/11; and DUSM Josie Wells​ in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Losing colleagues who are considered family is heartbreaking. As the names and funerals accumulated, deputies across the country did not want to forget or simply move on. They found strength in the memories of those who gave their lives wearing the U.S. Marshals star.

Deputy U.S. Marshal (DUSM) Karolina Duda in St. Louis worked out every day at 3 p.m. with DUSM Josie Wells and DUSM Steve Linder. Wells’ death tore a hole in Duda and Linder’s lives. They wanted to find a way for their office to remember and honor him — and all those who gave their lives in the agency.

“I was in the academy in November of 2010, and I was still in the academy when Hotsinpiller and John Perry were shot. So I remember going through training and hearing those two names and the impact that it had on me, it got very real”, Duda said. “When John Perry was still fighting for his life, before he perished in the hospital, we worked out that day at the academy, all day, kept in the fight with him.”

Duda and Linder began by reaching out to CrossFit. They wanted to have a Hero Workout of the Day (WOD) created in Wells’ honor. Hero WODs were created for veterans, military members, and police officers — most often for military members killed in the line of duty. To honor them, a specific workout would be developed and named after the fallen hero.

“So Karolina and I, wanted to do a hero WOD for Josie and we contacted CrossFit. We wrote letters, we wrote emails, we begged and pleaded and after being annoying enough, they finally published Josie’s Hero WOD,” said retired DUSM Steve Linder.

That first year of the Honor Run, Duda and Linder kept the focus on Wells, beginning with the WOD: a vested one-mile run followed by CrossFit exercises correlating to his badge number, 30406 — 30 burpees, 4 power cleans and then 6 front squats — followed by another mile run with the vest.

“It's not easy running with an extra 40 pounds of gear, and there was a purpose behind it. We're carrying the weight of our fallen brother, our fallen sisters,” Linder noted.

That first year, they informed leadership that they planned to carry a flag and invite the court family and all district USMS employees to participate.

“We had 30 people, maybe a little bit more, including deputies and court family, management really loved it,” Linder remembered.

They photographed the event and sent the images to headquarters — not seeking recognition, but simply to demonstrate they were honoring their fallen friend. After the run, participants gathered at a local barbecue restaurant and reminisced about Wells.

“A lot of people showed up but there were some who didn't participate because not everybody does CrossFit. We thought about it and we decided to change it to a Three Mile Vest run because everybody can run. It creates a place where everyone can remember the heroes and reflect on the sacrifices they made,” said Duda about that first run.

The second year, Duda and Linder — with the help and encouragement of their Chief Deputy, Brent Browshow — expanded the Honor Run nationally, encouraging participation across all 94 districts of the Marshals Service.

“We were calling deputies all over the country, we were sending pictures, sending emails like, hey, do this with us in your city,” said Linder. “In the beginning, headquarters was not really pushing anything out. It gained a bunch of traction but still wasn't super big yet. It wasn't until probably the third or fourth year that we started to get a lot of buy in around the country. And then there would be pictures, social media stuff from deputies. It was then that we got an official announcement from HQ that said, ‘Hey, this is the day!”

Every year, participation has grown. In some cities, the event has expanded to include local police and other law enforcement agencies, as well as Gold Star Families — those who have lost a family member in the line of duty.

In 2018, Linder transferred to Chicago and helped grow the event there, resulting in a significantly larger gathering covered annually by local news media.

The local fire department raises a flag between ladder trucks — as is done for fallen firefighters — for runners to pass beneath. Local police provide patrol cars or motorcycles with lights activated to escort the procession of participants.

“It is just a super prideful day and really makes you proud to carry the badge. It's all about going home to your family. And you are thinking about the people who were killed and gave it all, you know, none of small stuff matters anymore.” Says Linder.

This year, leading up to the 10th annual Honor Run, T-shirts and sweatshirts are being sold to support the U.S. Marshals Service Survivor Benefit Fund.

“I am extremely happy this has lasted ten years, and I hope it lasts 100 or even more than that. I hope that we never forget, I know I will not and I know, my colleagues will never forget. I can only hope it will be the same for future generations,” Says Duda.

The Marshals Service maintains a strong tradition of pride, remembrance and honor — from the Honor Wall at headquarters listing every fallen deputy’s name, to memorials in courthouses across the country, and the books, films and television programs highlighting its history. Ten years in, the Honor Run remains one of the newest traditions. With growing participation and an unwavering commitment to remembering the fallen, it is positioned to endure for generations.​

DUSM Josie Wells (center) with DUSM Karolina Duda and DUSM Steve Linder