K.I.A. Memorial Roadmarch Inc.

**The History**

The K.I.A. Memorial Roadmarch ("KMR") started when SGM Jason Jaskula wanted to find a way to honor the memory of his Battle Buddy, Christopher Dill. Chris, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Reserves and a firefighter in Buffalo, was killed in action (K.I.A.) during Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 4, 2005, in Diyala, Iraq. He left behind family and friends who deeply miss him. Chris is always at the forefront of the planning for the March, especially when it comes to creating the Squad Challenges. Jason often reflects, "What would Chris do?"

When Jason returned from Irag he volunteered wherever he could to help local Veterans, assisting with events such as the Department of Veterans Affairs’ "Welcome Home Troops" event and the Olympic-themed "Veterans Golden Age Games." He also became a mentor in the Buffalo Veterans Court Mentor. Meeting the families of Veterans who did not return home and connecting with Veterans who had lost friends profoundly impacted Jason as he coped with his own grief for Chris. In his quest to honor Chris’s memory, he recognized that there was no public event in Western New York dedicated to honoring service members K.I.A.

On November 23, 2012, Jason walked 22 kilometers carrying 60 pounds of rocks in his rucksack. Each rock displayed the name of a Military Member Killed in Action while in Iraq and Afghanistan from Western New York. Since then, the organization K.I.A. has raised 550,000 pounds of food to support local Veterans and food pantries while honoring the now 331 Military Members Killed in Action since 9/11 from New York State.  

Our mission is to help Veterans in need while honoring the fallen. 

The goal of KMR is to honor and remember the members of our Armed Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our country. KMR donates the food carried by the roadmarchers to local community food pantries that assist veterans in need. Funds raised by KMR are used to support organizations such as the Buffalo Treatment Court Mentors program, the Gold Star Mothers (GSM), and other programs aimed at assisting our veterans.

It only takes one person to enact change, and I hope you will be that person. Join us in helping KMR give back to those who have sacrificed for us.

By registering for one of our events, you can make a difference for Veterans. KMR is just getting started in our mission to support them. We host numerous events throughout the year, including:

Our other events: 

 - "Toast to the Fallen," our main fundraiser, which helps raise awareness for our fallen heroes and honors their memory.

- 716 EmPOURium Whiskey wine spirits and more. A tasting event like no other where you can meet with local and national ambassadors and try and buy their products 

Be sure to check out our brochure or visit our website for details on all our events!