WASHINGTON -- As many parents and families can attest, the most difficult experience is the loss of a child or loved one. The family of Marine Cpl. Kirk Bosselmann knows this first hand.
On Nov. 27, 2004, the 21-year-old Bosselmann was killed during the battle of Fallujah, and shortly after his death his family was visited by Marines from the inspector-instructor staff of Bravo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion stationed in Frederick, Md., who were tasked with bearing the news.
"The death of any Marine is a tragic loss for all of us," says 1st Sgt. David Jobe of 4th LAR. "To have the job of knocking on that door, not knowing what to expect, and informing the family is personally and professionally the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
Jobe, who was serving as a casualty assistance call officer when he knocked on the Bosselmanns' door, said sharing human emotion with these families can create a special bond.
"Most of the time you cannot help but create and establish a personal relationship with these families because you've shared such an important part of their lives with them," said Maj. Greg Grunwald, inspector-instructor for Bravo Company.
This past April the Bosslemanns asked Bravo Company Marines to join them in honoring Kirk's sacrifice by running the 26.2-mile Marine Corps Marathon with them in his honor and to raise money for the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society and other families of fallen heroes.
The Marines of Bravo's inspector-instructor staff were pleased to accept the invitation and join "Team Kirk."
"I just couldn't say no," said Gunnery Sgt. John Detota, administrative chief for Bravo's I&I staff. "I knew it was going to be a tough run, but the cause was well worth it," he said.
The family, in a statement, said they chose the Marine Corps Marathon because they believed the "event is a fitting salute to the bravery, determination, and commitment of our Kirk and to all the men and women who have put themselves in harm's way."
Preparing for a marathon is by far not an easy task, and for members of the Bosselmann family, many of whom have never run long distances before, it proved to be quite an experience.
"The long days and months of unbelievably demanding and totally exhausting training have given us a new appreciation for the Marine way," the family's statement said.
On Halloween, Team Kirk joined more than 30,000 other motivated participants and equally enough spectators on a picture-perfect day in Washington, D.C., to run the 30th Marine Corps Marathon. In their black shirts with orange stenciling, they each bore Kirk's silhouette over their hearts with "Team Kirk--Running for the Families of Fallen Heroes" on their backs.
Many of the 16-member team started at different times, ran in groups or individually, ran faster or slower than others or paced themselves to beat the clock, but all finished--completing the challenge, accomplishing the mission and paying their tribute.
For Detota, the associated aches and pains of running a marathon were not his main concern, but dealing with an allergic reaction to a bee sting.
"I got stung just when they started the race," he said. "I couldn't believe it."
Detota, who has had serious reactions to bee stings in the past, said he was not going to let that stop him from running the race for Team Kirk. He quickly notified a medic as he began the race, refusing to take an injection that would reduce the swelling and combat the reaction.
"The shot usually makes me sicker than the actual sting, so I said you're going to have to wait until I cross the finish line," he said.
The medics did wait indeed, but had opportunities along the route to monitor his heart rate and check his blood pressure at different checkpoints.
"I did have some concerns around the 14th Street Bridge when I noticed my breathing was getting a bit tight, but the docs checked me out and I pushed on to the end," Detota said.
He was met at the finish line by an entourage of medical folks who quickly escorted him to a medical tent to administer a treatment.
Five Marines from the Bravo I&I Staff participated in the marathon to support Team Kirk: Grunwald, Jobe, Detota, Staff Sgt. Thomas Davis and Staff Sgt Brian Feil.
"The way I see it, Corporal Bosselmann was a brother-Marine who pushed himself to the very limit in providing us our freedom," Jobe said. "We paid tribute to that by pushing ourselves to our own limits, enduring a physical and mental gut-check. In the end, it's the least we could do to remember fellow heroes like him by honoring their dedication, commitment and sacrifice." Jobe said.