201905.27
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Memorial Day race honors Camp Pendleton’s Darkhorse Marines

by in News

  • Marine Cpl Carlos Garcia’s daughter, Isabel, 6, jumps into his arms after she finishes the 21st annual City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day kids run on Monday, May 27, 2019. Garcia was injured while serving in Afghanistan in 2010. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Marine Sgt. Matt Elston with the 20th Special Forces, completes the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day 5k on
    Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  • Stephany Bauman plows through the finish with her 2-year-old twins Carson, left, and Peyton, right, and 1-year-old Jaxson during the 21st annual City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day run on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Hamilton Blake shoulders the load of his 10-year-old daughter, Rylee, as they finish the annual City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day 5k on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Children sprint to the finish during the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day kids run on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Piper looks patriotic as she hangs out with owner Jessica Ayers during the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day event on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Runners warm up before the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day run on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • The early-morning City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day run causes yawns while runners wait for it to begin on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A runner tenderly touches the banner of Marine Corp Derek Wyatt as she runs past during the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day run on Monday, May 27, 2019. Banners represented the 25 Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment who were killed in Afghanistan. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Family members of Marine Lance Cpl. Irvin Ceniceros, including his mom and dad, Maria and Ignocia, are recognized during the Laguna Hills Memorial Day run on
    Monday, May 27, 2019. Ceniceros died in 2010 while serving in Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. His dad (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • P.J. Barnes of Orange celebrates as she finishes the Laguna Hills Memorial Day 5k run on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Jordan Ramirez, 10, finishes the Laguna Hills Memorial Day 5k on Monday, May 27, 2019. Ramirez holds a record for being the youngest to run seven marathons in seven continents by age 10.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • The 21st annual City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day run is kicked off with the National Anthem on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A young runner salutes as the National Anthem is played before the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day race begins on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Runners are reflected in a window during the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day race on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Gold Star Mother Maria Ceniceros, whose son, Marine Lance Cpl. Irvin Ceniceros was killed in Afghanistan, gets driven in a gold convertible at the start of the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day race on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A runner passes the banner of Marine Sgt. Jason Amores who was killed in Afghanistan in 2011, during the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day run on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Thousands of runners came out Monday, May 27, to participate in Memorial Day races to benefit Camp Pendleton’s Darkhorse Battalion.

The longest of the runs — a half-marathon — traveled a course from Laguna Hills, through Laguna Woods, Laguna Woods Village, Aliso Viejo and into Laguna Niguel before ending at the Laguna Hills Community Center. A finish line expo, celebrating Darkhorse Marines and Gold Star families, was held at the center after the race. In 2018, the race raised about $10,000 for Team Darkhorse, a community group that supports the 3rd Battalion/5th Marines, adopted by Laguna Hills in 2008.

This year’s Grand Marshall was U.S. Marine Major Thomas Schueman.