Submitted Photo Former Dunkirk resident Nina Bautista Lynch running in the Buffalo Marathon 2017.

Special to the OBSERVER

Nina Bautista Lynch was born to run. She has been running since she could walk. She ran on teams for Dunkirk High School as well as cross county for Brockport State College. Her running did not stop there. Through the years she has been involved in many marathons and other running events.

Not until Nina joined the Red, White, Blue (RWB) running chapter of Albany did she really hit her stride.

The RWB enriches the lives of wounded veterans and their families. Their community is comprised of a diverse group of people: wounded veterans, advocates, athletes and supporters. The red T-shirt with “RWB” printed on the front can be seen at many running events. Nina participated in this year’s Buffalo Marathon, running the half-marathon course. When she runs, she carries a full size American flag on a pole the whole way.

The RWB also participates in many community events concerning those veterans who have lost the good fight. They lay wreaths at Christmas and are involved in other veteran supporting activities. The function of RWB is to bring awareness to the public of the men and women who have protected our country, many times to the detriment of themselves.

On the weekend of Friday June 9 and continuing until Sunday, June 11, Nina participated in Run for Fallen Soldiers. This run was held to honor New York’s Fallen Military Heroes and their families. The running group consists of 25 runners that include veterans as well as civilians. It begins in Syracuse and ends in Albany. Gold Star families line the route waiting until the name of their loved one who paid the greatest price is read. A flag is planted at every mile marker. The runner reads the name, a small bio of the soldier and plants the flag.

Gold Star family members through their tears then cheer the runners on to the next mile. And so it goes for 142 miles, 341 names. This year the soldiers from 9/11 were honored.

And so Nina runs. She runs for the soldier who came home and for those that did not. She runs for the families who are left with only memories of their hero.