Memorial run to honor long-time resident Gayland Van Dyke

Photo by Mike Eckels Bob Bland (left), from the Fayetteville Chapter 12 Woodmen Life organization, presented a check to Jessica Duncan from the Gayland Van Dyke 5K Run committee during the Decatur Veterans Committee meeting in the committee room at Decatur City Hall March 27. The run will take place May 13 at Decatur Veterans Park.
Photo by Mike Eckels Bob Bland (left), from the Fayetteville Chapter 12 Woodmen Life organization, presented a check to Jessica Duncan from the Gayland Van Dyke 5K Run committee during the Decatur Veterans Committee meeting in the committee room at Decatur City Hall March 27. The run will take place May 13 at Decatur Veterans Park.

DECATUR -- Gayland Van Dyke was a long time resident of Decatur who was a devoted family man and loved his community and his country. When he passed away on April 11, 2016, just before his trip to Washington, D.C., aboard the O&A Honor Flight, he left a hole in the lives of his family and friends, particularly his granddaughter Rebekah.

Rebekah was an accomplished high school runner in Oklahoma. Her coach saw potential in the young runner and began to work with her. She entered Rebekah in her first Arkansas/Oklahoma Duel all-star meet as a ninth grader on Nov. 14, 2015. Her grandpa Gayland, who watched her run since she was a child, became her inspiration and he was there to cheer her on.

"My parents and Grandma Beryl and Grandpa Gayland were there to cheer me on, along with my best friend Kenzy," Rebekah wrote in 'Rebekah's Letter.' "Little did I know through all the day's events that would be the last race that grandpa would watch me race. On April 11 my desire to run in track or cross country came to a crashing halt. The one person that gave me 100 percent of support in my running was gone. The desire of running escaped me at 1:30 a.m. that morning just as grandpa's last breath left his body."

In spite of her parents, coach and friends' encouragement, Rebekah was finished with running. Then the idea of a 5K run in honor of Van Dyke was proposed to Rebekah in an effort to get her back into the sport. She agreed. Thus the idea of the Van Dyke Run in Decatur became a reality.

Jessica Duncan organized the Gayland Van Dyke 5K Memorial Run and 1 Mile Fun Run and Walk which take place at Decatur Veterans Park May 13 beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The theme for this year's event is "Running to Honor Past and Present Veterans."

The run is dedicated to all military veterans in honor of Van Dyke's service in the Army during the Korean War. He and lifelong friends Clarence Amos, Lester Austin and Paul Austin were all stationed in Korea together during the early 1950s.

All proceeds will go to the Gayland Van Dyke scholarship fund for one graduating Decatur High School senior and for the O&A Honor Flight.

For more information on the Gayland Van Dyke 5K Memorial Run or to pre-register, go to localraces.com or contact the race director at [email protected].

Schedule of Events

Registration and packet pick-up is at 7:30 a.m.

Opening ceremony starts at 8:30 a.m.

Race starts at 9:15 a.m.

Fun run and walk start at 9:25 a.m.

Kids Events start at 9:45 a.m. and 9:50 a.m.

Ending Ceremony and Awards start at 10:15 a.m.

General News on 04/12/2017