Although the James Joyce Ramble has come to be known throughout the country as a spirited celebration of spring, community and culture, organizers of the 25 year old event want participants to reflect on the sacrifice and human costs of a war that seems to be remote from the everyday routines and concerns of most Americans.

Gold Star Mother Mary Ellen Callahan will celebrate her only son's life with her first 10K run, one of the over four thousand sons and daughters in uniform who have given their lives in the war.

The Ramble will occur on the one year anniversary to the day when Marine Corp Engineer Sgt. William Callahan and his fellow soldier, SSgt. Peter Woodall, were killed in Anbar Province while disarming a command detonated IED in Iraq on 27 Apr '07.

He was 28 and left a wife and a son who was 17 days old.  He was assigned to the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Since her son's death, Mary Ellen Callahan has visited the families of other Massachusetts soldiers killed in the Iraq war. She also started two local "Gold Star" groups to help grieving families of soldiers: one for siblings, and another for families. The groups meet monthly in Brockton.

"It's really overwhelming and there's nobody else that understands it except a person that walks in these shoes. So I find it very healing," she said in a recent interview with the Brockton Enterprise. "You don't get over it, absolutely not.  Does it stop hurting? No. Does it go away? No. It's the love in my heart that I have for my son. He left behind a legacy of love." Ms. Callahan will be joined by other Veteran families who will run or walk the course, beginning at the Endicott Estate in Dedham, Sunday, April 27.

Two months ago Ramble organizers developed the "Home Front Team" program, which will make free entries for the 10K run and North Star Ramble for children ten and under, available to all youngsters, 18 or under , who have parents deployed in a war zone

Ramble director and founder Martin Hanley hopes that everyone, no matter what their political stripe may be, will come together as a community to honor these families and the price they have paid and continue to pay.  "We don't fully realize in this country that we as a nation will bear the burden of this conflict for many years into the future.  These families and these men and women deserve all that we can give in support and love. Anything less will diminish us as a country," said Hanley. Information can be obtained at the website www.ramble.org and volunteers can email staff@ramble.org