SOUTH DEERFIELD — The mother of Meaghan Burns, a South Deerfield resident and U.S. Navy corpsman who was murdered in 2019, is bringing back a 5K walk and run this Memorial Day weekend to honor fallen American service members.

Carolyn Burns has organized a “wear blue: run to remember” 5K that will be held Sunday, May 25, at 9 a.m. at Frontier Regional School. Prior to the run, folks will gather in a circle of remembrance, where they can say the names of fallen friends and family members before they head out on the course.

Participants are asked to sign up in advance, but if they are unable to do so, they can sign up upon arrival at Frontier. To sign up, visit wearblueruntoremember.org/memorial-day.

Burns said the event is an opportunity for the community to come together and honor those who have served the country. She added that the 5K is free and people of all abilities are welcome, as it is family-friendly and participants can walk or run. Children are also invited to ride bicycles.

“It keeps my daughter’s memory alive, and it brings up the names and honors people who have served. … When I did it a few years ago, it was an honor for me to bring it to our community and show people what ‘wear blue’ is and also honor the service members and the fallen,” Burns said, thinking back to the 2023 run. “I appreciate this community and all that everyone has done for me over the years, and this is another way for me to share my love for the community.”

A national nonprofit, “wear blue: run to remember” honors members of the military who have died while in service by organizing running and walking events around the country. Burns said the community network formed through the group has helped her continue to process her daughter’s death.

“It’s been really helpful for me and my healing,” Burns said. “My daughter dying, especially in the way she did, I had to create an armor around myself. … When I’m with the wear blue community, I can let my guard down and be myself.”

Meaghan Burns, a 2013 Frontier graduate, was 23 years old when she was one of three active-duty Navy corpsmen killed at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Portsmouth, Virginia, in a double homicide and suicide in May 2019. Meaghan’s friend, Shianne Taylor Soles, 19, of Veradale, Washington, was also killed by Donavon Moora, 22, of New York, who was then found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Burns and Soles were stationed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, while Moora was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

The 5K will begin at Frontier, head down North Main and South Main streets, and then turn onto Thayer Street. From there, participants will turn right onto Sugarloaf Street and make their way back to the Mount Sugarloaf entrance driveway before turning around and heading back to Frontier using Sugarloaf and North Main streets.

“It’s very flat. We’ll have signs and the police are going to be there to ensure everything goes very smoothly,” Burns said. “I hope people will come out and be part of this living memorial to our service members.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.