On Sunday October 25, 2015, Ernie Orelli completed his 4th annual marathon in honor of Albert P. Gettings. He ran 26.2 miles in Washington D.C, running from the pentagon all the way to the Iwojima Memorial. The marathon, consisting of 35,000 runners, started at 7:30 a.m., but all the runners and people participating had to be at the starting line at 5:30 a.m.Orelli ran the Blue Mile, stretch of the race dedicated to the marines we have lost overseas; Mrs. Gettings and her husband were actually on that mile holding two flags, one with Albert’s name and another with a name of a soldier who had no loved ones there.
What we don’t see is how
tricky and complicated it is to even be able to run the marathon. First,
runners have to sign up for a lottery to even be able to run. 160,000 people
signed for it just this year only! Luckily for Mr. Orelli was emailed
back in March, stating that he was picked from the lottery. If his name was not
pulled, he could still qualify for the Marine Corps Marathon by running the
17.75K. Mr. Orelli actually ran that 11.03 mile marathon, last year in Prince
William County, VA allowing him to run in last year's Marine Corps Marathon.
Just consider the training
that he goes through – it’s crazy! Over the course of 18 weeks, Mr. Orelli has
to run 400 miles, something he has done for four years in a row!
When Mr. Orelli runs these marathons for Albert, he collects money
to go into the memorial named after Albert to benefit the Albert P. Gettings
Foundation. This year alone, there were 40 contributors with about half of them
being businesses. Our very own Peer Leaders were among those who raised money
for Mr. Orelli, raising over $750.
These aren’t the only
marathons that Ernie Orelli has run. Sure, he has run four marathons just for
the Marines Corps, but he stated that the total number of medals, which his
daughter keeps in her room, is twenty!
In the end, It doesn’t
matter what place he'll come in for all future marathon. What makes all the
medals special is the fact that he finishes. So, the next time you see Mr.
Orelli in the halls, congratulate him. He deserves it.
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When her nose isn't buried inside a book, Samantha Amon Studies Computer Office Technology. After she graduates, she plans to follow in the footsteps of her family as a 4th generation nurse. Her friends would describe her as beautiful, kind-hearted, and one-of-a-kind.
