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Cross-country run passing through Macon to honor fallen heroes

In their 6,000 mile journey, the runners will honor nearly 20,000 military men and women who have died in the War on Terror.

After her son was killed serving with the Marines in Iraq, Cathy Krattli made a pledge to make sure all fallen heroes are remembered.

"I will keep paying it forward to honor him and all of our men and women who have sacrificed so much," she says.

For a few years after her son's death in 2005, she made scrapbooks for other Gold Star families.

They were filled with letters of condolences, pictures of their fallen loved one, and words of encouragement.

Her latest project is helping with the nationwide Run for the Fallen.

A group of runners began their journey in California in April and will trek 6,000 miles to Arlington National Cemetery.

Along the way, they will stop at designated mile markers to honor the nearly 20,000 fallen heroes who have died in the War on Terror.

"All the sacrifices they make, all the sacrifices the families make, don't forget them," says Krattli. "This is what this run is all about."

The runners will make their way through Georgia starting on July 10 and their path runs straight through Macon.

RELATED: See the complete route of the Run for the Fallen

Krattli says when they get here, she wants them to see just how much their journey means to her and other Gold Star families.

"I'm doing it for the me and women who are taking five months out of their lives to go on the road and honor all of our men and women that we have lost," she says.

She's asking central Georgians to join her.

"We need food, we need lodging, we need runners, basically we need money," she says.

She says anyone can join the group to run, even for just a mile, but she says the biggest way to help might be the simplest.

"Line the roads with your flags, cheer, wave smile," she says. "If you're near a mile marker, be there for the little ceremony honoring that particular warrior who gave his all."

Krattli says she's also reaching out to law enforcement to provide police escorts along the route.

The runners plan to reach their final destination at Arlington in August.

If you're interested in donating to her CrowdRise, click here for more information.

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