Cpl. Brandon Sondergren, formerly of Waldoboro, served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now dedicates a big part of his life to keeping the memory of fallen soldiers alive, and also helping those who survived the war, but suffer from injuries, both visible and invisible.
Sondergren graduated from Medomak Valley High School in 2005, and joined the Marines a year later. His two tours of duty took him to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2011. He served with the First Battalion, 25th Marine Division with the Maine based Alpha Company.
After serving six years in the Marines, Sodergren is now a student at the University of Southern Maine, and is dedicating his life to helping wounded warriors and the families of fallen soldiers.
Sodergren said he never was much of a runner, but was athletic. He became involved in Run For Our Fallen Heroes after returning to civilian life. He has run four marathons with Run For Our Fallen Heroes.
On Patriot’s Day he will run his first Boston Marathon in memory of Lcpl. Alexander Arredondo, of Bangor, who lost his life serving his country in Iraq in 2004. Arredondo’s father Carlos, a former firefighter, was the cowboy hat hero who jumped the fence near the finish line and saved lives at last year’s Boston Marathon bombing.
“We’re going to be at the finish line. We are very proud of what he is doing in memory of my son, and we’re looking forward to cheering his amazing heart,” C. Arredondo told Channel 8 news.
“Carlos Arredondo and my friend John Nixon were 25 yards from the blast. Nixon started Run For Our Fallen Heroes in Maine. He has all the Gold Star families come. It is a very emotional event every year,” Sodergren said.
Run For Our Fallen Heroes was formed in 2008 and is “dedicated to keeping alive the memory of our military heroes that gave their lives to protect our freedom since Sept. 11, 2011,” the website states. The organization helps the Gold Star families with general assistance funds and scholarships.
I run each one [race] in honor of a fallen marine or soldier,” Sodergren said.
He ran his first marathon, the Marine Corps marathon, in 2012 in Washington, D.C., in honor Lcpl. Josh Bernard, a Maine Marine who was killed in Afghanastan.
“I actually did his funeral. I do not know any of the marines, but I know their families very well,” Sodergren said of getting to know the families of the fallen for whom he runs.
Sodergren said, “I will raise awareness of him [Bernard] and his life and I will make sure his sacrifice is heard. During my training, and during the Marathon – every mile, every stride, and every breath I take is for him. He gave his life for God and country, for all of us Americans, for the Afghan people, and for a better way of life and I am proud to honor this Marine and his life! God Bless him and his family!” Sodergren wrote on his Run For Our Fallen Heroes fundraising page in 2012.
His second marathon was the Army Marathon at Fort Hood, Tex., and his third was the Marine Corps Marathon held in Washington, D.C. “It ends in Arlington National Ceremony. It is very emotional. It is great marathon run by the Marine Corps,” Sodergren said.
“I am very passionate about guys that have given their life for this country. I grew up in a patriotic family,” he said.
Sodergren ran his first race for a cause, the Walk-Run to Home Base in Boston, to raise money for veterans with invisible wounds of war, including PTSD post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, and traumatic brain injury, or TBI. Over 2,000 participate in the walk-run.
“The Run-Walk to Home Base presented by New Balance raises funds for the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program.
During the past three years, Home Base has provided clinical care and support services to more than 500 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families, and educated over 6,000 clinicians throughout the United States about post traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and the challenges faced by military families.
Home Base is also engaged in cutting edge research to improve treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury,” their website states.
“There is lots of awareness out there about guys that come home really wounded, but not a lot of awareness on the unseen injuries,”Sodergren said.
Sodergran has to raise a minimum of $5,000 for the Boston Marathon. For the Marine and Army marathons he has had to raise $500 to $1,000. “I’m trying to raise money for fallen and Gold Star Families,” Sodergren said.
“Some of my buddies” have been severely injured. “I have a lot of friends” that have been affected by the war. “A few of my friends that served over seas, suffer big time. I have another friend that lost both legs. We all came home – that’s what is the most important thing,” Sodergren said as his reasons for running with Run For Our Fallen Heroes.
“I can’t imagine being a Gold Star family. We can’t bring them back, but we just try to help and comfort them the best we can. It is a great organization, I am proud to be a part of it,” Sodergren said.
The annual event Run For The Fallen Heroes Maine will be held at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station this summer, on Aug. 24.
Sodergren can be contacted at brandonthemarine@gmail.com.
Sodergren is the son of Linda and Jody (Jonathan) Perry of Waldoboro.
Anyone wishing to support Sodergren with his fundraising efforts, please go to http://www.crowdrise.com/LcplAlexArredondoMemorial/fundraiser/brandonsodergren.
