Out of the tens of thousands in the crowd Sunday for this year's Marine Corps Marathon, Joann Lyles and Tim Scherer will be there.
They are two New York families forever connected first by horror, then heroism. Video shows the smoke in Ramadi, Iraq in 2008 as Lt. Corporal Jordan Haerter and Corporal Jonathan Yale shot a suicide bomber. The act of heroism saved 30 marines and countless other Iraqi police and civilians.
A year before Jordan was killed, Tim Scherer's son Corporal Christopher Scherer was killed by a sniper in Iraq. Today, both families have made the same choice.
"You have two choices, mourn his death or celebrate his life. We choose to celebrate," said Tim Scherer.
Scherer has raised over $40,000 to send packages to troops and raise service dogs for wounded veterans. Lyles, who was comforted by Scherer shortly after her son's death, puts on a yearly run on Jordan's birthday and established a scholarship in his name.
On Sunday, there will be two families, one race and the continuance of countless acts of heroism.
"I want him to know I try to do all good in his honor. I just want his name to be remembered," said Joann Haerter.
To learn more about each of these heros, head to www.cplchris.com and www.injordonshonor.com.