Participants in the 5-kilometer run honoring Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback take off from the starting line Saturday morning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Cuddeback was killed in a shooting attack at Frankfurt Airport on March 2, 2011. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Participants in the 5-kilometer run honoring Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback take off from the starting line Saturday morning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Cuddeback was killed in a shooting attack at Frankfurt Airport on March 2, 2011. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Matt Albertson crosses the finish line with the overall best time of 17:26 at the 5-kilometer memorial run Saturday honoring Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback. The 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron was host for the run, held at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and hopes to make it an annual event. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Capt. Robin Herndon crosses the finish line as the top female runner with a time of 20:11 in the 5-kilometer memorial run Saturday that honored Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Jaci Tresemer and her husband, Capt. Beau Tresemer, participated in the run with their dog, Pony. The 5-kilometer run was held at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Saturday in honor of Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, volunteered their services Saturday during the 5-kilometer run that honored Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Hundreds of people turned out Saturday for a 5-kilometer run in memory of Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback, who was killed in a shooting attack at Frankfurt Airport on March 2, 2011.
The 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron at Ramstein Air Base was host for the run.
“To memorialize Zach, we thought it would be a great honor for him ..., and a group of us got together and said we should do a 5-K,” said Staff Sgt. John Tegeler, who was Cuddeback’s supervisor. “His family is extremely excited about this run and wish they could be here, but unfortunately they couldn’t. We plan on doing this yearly in his memory.”
About 650 participants turned out for the event, which started at 10 a.m. All funds collected from the race will benefit the United Service Organizations, Wounded Warrior Project and the Fisher House.
“Knowing Zach and his athleticism and what he brought to the table when we did PT (physical training), he was always one of the fastest guys out there. So to propose a 5-K, I thought was a great idea,” said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Sniff, the 86th VRS superintendent.
