The color guard of Pulaski County High School stood at attention as a prayer was offered before the run. In the background, law enforcement friends hold flags Sgt. Hodge had carried in other runs himself.
A 16K run was held Wednesday in honor of Sgt. Perry Hodge of the Pulaski Sheriff’s Department, who was killed Jan. 14 in a car crash.
Hodge was an active participant in the New River Valley Public Health Task Force. Blacksburg Police Chief Anthony Wilson called him “dedicated to the fight against COVID” and “a valued colleague and comrade.”
The route for the 1 p.m. run began in Radford’s Bisset Park, went through central and west central Radford before coming back to Bisset Park.
Taking part in the run were approximately 125 runners, 25 volunteers and some 15 others who came for the start. The run was organized by law officer Jerri Abdelaziz, and special thanks were given to Domino’s Pizza in Radford, which donated pizzas for all the participants.
A number of law enforcement and public education agencies participated in the run including representatives from the Radford Police Department, the Dublin Fire Department, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the Radford Fire Department and EMS, the Dublin Police Department, the Salem Police Department, the Fairlawn Fire Department; principals, teachers and staff from Riverlawn Elementary School; Dublin Elementary School; Pulaski County middle and high school; the Pulaski County School Board office; the Pulaski High School Color Guard; the Floyd Sheriff’s Office, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Christiansburg Police Department, the Pulaski fire and police departments; the Radford University Police Department, Pulaski County Hearts Behind the Badge and numerous military and veteran organizations.
