Celebrating Global Connections
Michelle Murdock, Freelance Writer | November 2014
Further cementing a connection made in 2010 when honoring the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon in Greece, representatives from the 26.2 Foundation once again celebrated Hopkinton’s global connections by delivering gold, silver and bronze plated wreaths to the winners of the 39th Marine Corps Marathon.
The wreaths, made of olive branches from Marathon, Greece, were donated by Dimitri Kyriakides in memory of his father, Stylianos Kyriakides, the winner of the 1946 Boston Marathon and a national hero in Greece. Funding for the wreaths was provided by Kyriakides and the 26.2 Foundation and the wreaths were delivered to the Marine Corps Marathon by 26.2 Foundation Executive Director Tim Kilduff for the 39th running of the Marine Corps Marathon in October.
“The 26.2 Foundation has honored the Marine Corps Marathon in being just one of two International marathons which it honors with the winner's wreath in honor of Stylianos Kyriakides, the 1946 Boston Marathon winner from Greece,” said Rick Nealis, Race Director for the Marine Corps Marathon.
“The wreaths are another example of Hopkinton’s Marathon Footprint and a reminder to all of us of the global nature of the sport of marathoning,” said Kilduff.
In 2010, representatives of the Marine Corps Marathon came to Hopkinton to join in the celebration of the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon. As part of the celebration, the Flame of the Marathon, originally transferred from Marathon, Greece to Hopkinton in 2008, was presented to Nealis. The Flame of Marathon was created in 2007 in a ceremony at the Tomb of the Athenians, in Marathon, Greece the site of the historic Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
The first connection between Hopkinton and Marathon, Greece was made when New Balance commissioned a sculpture at the one-mile mark of the Boston Marathon course in Hopkinton of Stylianos Kyriakides standing next to Spiridon Louis, the winner of the first modern Olympic marathon in 1896.
“Over the years, Hopkinton has become like a second home to me,” said Dimitri Kyriakides. “The people have always greeted me with open arms, and I am very proud that the ‘Spirit of the Marathon’ sculpture honoring my father is located at the 1-mile mark of the Boston Marathon course in Hopkinton. Every time I visit, I am reminded of the town’s place in marathon history. When I am there, I cannot help but think about how my father must have felt when he went to the starting line in 1946 as the starter’s gun went off and he was on his way to becoming a Boston Marathon champion.”
And it is Hopkinton’s sister-city relationship with Marathon, Greece, that led to the connection between Hopkinton and the Marine Corps Marathon, representing yet another example of Hopkinton’s Marathon Footprint and the global connections it has made possible.
Nealis echoes those global connections saying, “Recognizing the Marines spirit for physical courage, dedication and professionalism, the Marine Corps Marathon is known as the People's Marathon and through its runners it is able to promote the history and traditions of our sport of running. The 26.2 Foundation identifies the special connection of the runner from Athens who brought word of victory from Marathon Greece to the thousands of runners who at Marine Corps Marathon have been able to feel a sense of victory when they cross the finish line in front of the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington Virginia. In the words of the Marines motto, Semper Fidelis; may we always be faithful to our sport, our values, and our health, and with the 26.2 Foundation support these goals can be achieved.”
