Veterans Vigil Run honors servicemembers Published Nov. 7, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Joshua Eikren 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The fourth annual Veterans Vigil Run was held at Three Springs Park in Shiloh, Ill., Nov. 1-2 to honor veterans past and present. This year's 24-hour run paid tribute to two local veterans, Capt. Brandon Cyr and Army Spc. Ja'mel Bryant. Cyr, 28, of Woodbridge, Va., was assigned to the 906th Air Refueling Squadron here and died April 27 in the crash of an MC-12 aircraft near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Bryant, 22, of Belleville, Ill., was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany, and died Sept. 27 in Baghdad of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident while on patrol in Wahida, Iraq. Family members were in attendance along with members of Team Scott and the local community. Cyr's father, Phillip (a Navy Captain) said, "This run was an outstanding tribute from the community and the base." Bryant's brother, Antonio, read a poem that he wrote for his brother called, "My Momma's Soldier," which he also dedicated to Cyr. The Scott AFB Junior Enlisted Council read the names of more than 1,700 veterans who had died and participants ran more than 185 miles. Master Sgt. Mathias Gassen, 375th Air Mobility Wing event coordinator, said, "We appreciated everyone who came out and ran to support this event." Along with Team Scott, the Roosevelt High School Junior ROTC was in attendance for the opening ceremonies for the lighting of the candles, and the Mascoutah High School Junior ROTC performed drill and the folding of the flag for the closing. The run was sponsored by the Air Force Sergeants Association and the Illinois Patriot Guard stood in an honor line for the opening and closing ceremonies.