Fallen firefighter remembered at annual run-walk

Kyle Wilson, the Prince William County firefighter who died in the line of duty three-years ago, was re-membered Saturday at C.D. Hylton High School in Dale City.

This was third year his family, members of the department and the community came together to hold a 10K run and walk in his memory.

After bouncing between jobs, Kyle Wilson found firefighting and loved it, said his father, Bob Wilson.

"I made a comment to him, and I kind of regret it to this day, and I said to him 'You've got a cake job, there's no high rises in this county,' and he said 'Whatever, you don't have to have a high rise to be threatened,' " said Bob Wilson.

Kyle Wilson died while fighting a house fire in Woodbridge on April 16, 2007. He was 24 years old. After entering a burning house, the firefighter became trapped under a stairwell. He radioed for help, but fire-fighters didn't reach him until it was too late.

Wilson's sister Kelli on Saturday told the more than 500 people who packed the track, ready to tackle the 6.2 mile course, to laugh and share memories of her late brother. "Ultimately he loved firefighting, and it was him that chose to fight that fire…it was his bravery that really impressed me," said said.

In addition to the run-walk that started at 10 a.m., for the first time this year organizers held a 10K timed run at 7 a.m.

Participants for the main event converged on the high school football field, where the Wilsons' friends and family hugged each other under a large banner of Kyle Wilson's likeness.

While addressing the crowd, Bob Wilson presented a $1,000 scholarship to Dale City resident and George Mason University student Danielle Miller, who like Kyle Wilson did at GMU, is pursuing a degree in athletic training. She also works as a firefighter.

"It's truly an honor to be picked for this award. As a volunteer EMT, I like giving back to the community," said Miller. As Kyle Wilson's name is well known in the community, she will try her best to live up to his legacy, she said. Miller was one of three who competed for the award.

This is the second year the walk was held at Wilson's high school alma mater. The first year, the event was held at Prince William's McCoart County Government Center in Woodbridge.

"The original idea for this was to get together, have a fitness walk and then maybe go out to lunch afterwards," said Prince William County Fire and Rescue Department Capt. Erik McCoy. "We ordered 150 T-shirts for the event the first year, and then we had 500 people show up. It's a team effort, and where some organizations have to try to get volunteers to go out and solicit donations and build excitement about an event, we already have the people who will do that."

Walkers and runners left the track on the first leg of the course, which took them along a bike path toward Saunders Middle School on Spriggs Road. Near the end of Spriggs Road, participants turned around and went back toward the starting point to finish the course.

Next year, organizers plan to hold the event on the anniversary of Wilson's death.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-530-3905.