MEMORIAL RUN continued from page 17
Runners in the half marathon and 10K of the Joplin Memorial Run start their race on at Cunningham Park . Globe | Roger Nomer
Jim Muldowney , of Boston , looks over the flags set up in honor of victims of the 2011 tornado at Cunningham Park . Muldowney volunteered in Joplin after the tornado with Americorps , and returned to run with his friends from that time . Globe | Roger Nomer tornado . Starting downtown allows runners to pass through the 161 banners with the names of the storm victims .
“ It ’ s pretty much a mile out and a mile back on both sides of the road ,” Sawkins said of the banners . “ Visually , it is very impactful .”
After the event , the remembrance flags will be given to the families of those who are memorialized on them . Family members requesting a flag can register at joplinmemorialrun . com . Registration for the final run is open on the organization ’ s website at www . joplinmemorialrun . com .
Go there for more information , including maps , details about packet pickup , and more .
18 JOPLIN MAGAZINE | APRIL / MAY