Sons of Legion Member Completes Run To Home Base Fund Raiser

Post 64 Sons of the Legion Member

 Competed in Run to Home Base

Van Jabagjorian, a member of Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 Sons of the Legion Squadron, competed in the July 28, 2018 Run to Home Base 9K race, which finished at the Boston Red Sox’ home plate in Fenway Park. Post 64 members attending the July monthly meeting approved a donation towards Van’s efforts. A newspaper account described the Post donation as “Locally, one of his largest supporters…”

 This annual fund raiser is a Red Sox sponsored charity in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital.  The fund provides financial support for mental health care to post-911 military veterans and their families.

 Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and other dignitaries spoke during the opening ceremony at Fenway Park. The 5.6 mile course started at Fenway Park and continued to the Mass Avenue Bridge to Cambridge along Memorial Drive to the Science Museum and back over the bridge to Fenway Park.

 Middleboro residents saw Van complete the course in a time of 57:30 while finishing 757th out of a field of nearly 1200 runners. And, in his age category of 60-69, he finished 14th out of 26.

 Jabogjorian dedicated the run to his best friend and high school classmate, Paul Peckham (1956-2009), who had served in Vietnam with the United States Marines. For his fund raising, aided by Dell Technologies 100% match, Van earned All Star status.

The Middleboro Gazette edition of August 16, 2018 highlighted Jabagjorian’s story on page B2 with four photographs. One of the pictures showed Van proudly posing  with his "thumbs up" after finishing the race.