DRESDEN − The annual Harper Classic 8k and 5k memorial run/walk will be Aug. 9 at the American Legion Post in Dresden. A block party will follow.
The annual races honor Marine Sgt. Bradley Harper, who killed on Aug. 3, 2005, south of Haditha, Iraq, when his amphibious assault vehicle was attacked during combat operations. He was 25 years old.
The races will begin at 8 and 8:15 a.m. respectively. Participants will start at the American Legion and follow Main Street. The 8k participants will continue out Dresden Road, where they will pick up the bike trail before retuning back into Dresden and picking up the 5k course where both routes together and follow several Dresden Village Streets before returning t the bike trial.
Awards will be issued to the top three male and female finishers, as well as in specific age categories. Entry fee is $30.
New this year
The legion and Muskingum Multisports will host the block party.
TDT Party Band and Sons of Mavrick will perform and a beer garden will be available at the legion. A poke table and corn hole tournament will be offered, as well as children’s games and inflatables.
Displays and demonstrations will include a bagpipe and drum band performance and a truck from the recently-formed Tri-Valley Joint Fire District. Food trucks and snow cones will be available.
Raffle tickets are being sold online with the winners to be announced during the Harper Classic.
Prizes include a custom bourbon barrel with 15 bottles of premium bourbon, custom Sig Sauer M18 Marine Corps Edition and a $500 Cabela’s gift card. Tickets are $25 and can be purchase Venmo at @BH-Field. Include your name and contact number on the description in the Venmo. Proceeds will benefit the initiative to the Tri-Valley High School football field in honor of Harper, who graduated from the school in 1998. For more information, visit the Sgt. Bradley J. Harper Veteran Memorial Fund – Naming Initiative on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Harper Classic returning to Dresden in August with a block party and raffle opportunities
Reporting by Staff Reports / Zanesville Times Recorder
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