Village of El Portal hosting run/walk for Armed Forces Day

The village of El Portal will honor U.S. troops and veterans on Armed Forces Day with a one-mile walk.

BY RODOLFO ROMAN
SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD
El Portal will be showing support for U.S. troops serving abroad and at home by hitting the asphalt.
The second annual El Portal one-mile run/walk in honor of Armed Forces Day will take place at Village Hall, 500 NE 87th St., at 8:30 a.m. on May 15.
The walk will start at Village Hall with a stroll through El Portal during the Armed Forces Day fitness initiative, which was started last year by village council member Claudia V. Cubillos. The event is open to families, walkers, runners and, of course, veterans.
The event is free, but participants are encouraged to donate refreshments like water bottles, sports drinks, coffee and baked goods. Drinks can be dropped off at Village Hall before the walk. Local veterans will be kicking off the event.
For Cubillos, the event hits close to home because family members and her husband, Noel Christian Pace, have served overseas.
``As a military spouse, I now know firsthand the sacrifices our troops and their families makein defending our country andour freedoms, and it is something to be honored,'' Cubillos said.
Armed Forces Day was first celebrated in 1949 and was created by the late Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson.
Aside from paying homage to the troops, Cubillos said the event brings the community together.
``These Run/Walks are the El Portal citizen's way of building some solidarity with the troops by exerting a little sweat in honor of the hard work the troops do for all of us,'' she said.
For information visit www.elportalvillage.com.