It started out four years ago as a novel idea for Babylon township to remember those who are serving, and those who have served and sacrificed on Veterans Day.

By any measure, the Fourth Annual Long Island Run for the Warriors, which kicked off at Babylon Town Hall on Sunday morning, is now a massive display of appreciation, compassion and solidarity.

While the event itself was conceived by a national group known as Hope for the Warriors, the town has made the day uniquely its own - a public gathering which, this year, raised more than $100,000, gathered drew more than 2,000 runners and gathered thousands more well-wishers in a celebration of the strength and resolve of service members and their families.

“We want to ensure that families of service members are well taken care of, for when they come back,“ said Town Supervisor and Suffolk County Executive-Elect Steve Bellone.

Jack Caffey, Jr. of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, who presided over the opening ceremonies, stated the purposes clearly in opening comments: "Enhancing the quality of life for United States Service Members and their families who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty."

As part of the opening ceremonies, Local 338 representative Tina Atherall led a group of Boy Scouts and others in recognizing people who have members of their family in the service - including "those who've served and those who have fallen,” she explained.

To that end, a solemn group of children handed out tiny American flags to a line of injured veterans, family members who've lost a loved one, as well as others, as a tearful crowd watched.

After the ceremonies, of course, the running began - 10K, 5K and one-mile fun-run contests winding through Town of Babylon streets.

Top finishers included:

• 10K Race, Men: First place, Michael Petrina of Bayport, with a time of 36:11.
• 10K Race, Women: First place, Angela Raccomandato of East Islip, with a time of 37:35 (and second place overall).

Additional top finishers in the 10K for men included:

• Michael Levtchenko (37:49)
• Martin Knapp (38:01)
• Steven Perez (38:51)
• Tommy Nettuno (39:21)

Other top finishers in the women’s 10K were:

• Laura Brown (39:50)
• Shari Klarfeld (40:23)
• Maggie Harrison (44:23)
• Nicole Bermudez (44:31)

Bermudez was the top women’s finisher from Lindenhurst, and 23rd overall. Finishing in the top 25 from Lindenhurst was Roger Soulagnet (44:45, 25th overall).

In the 5K the top male finisher was 15-year-old Liam Kelly, with a time of 17:19. Sixteen-year-old Anthony Giambrone of Lindenhurst took fourth overall with a time of 18:10.

The top female finisher and 13th overall was Nancy Kolich of West Babylon, with a time of 18:47.

Also finishing strong from Lindenhurst were:

• Kyle Cropsey (18:41, sixth overall, 16 years old)
• Robbie Festa (18:48, eighth overall, 17)
• Marcin Adamczyk (20:19, 15th overall, 16)
• AJ Seara (20:28, 17th, 16)