Under a Coleman Sky: Erica Snyder Runs for Her Brother
Erica Snyder is an ER nurse who spends her days caring for others in life’s most critical moments. When she’s not working in the emergency room, she finds herself hiking wooded trails, running under open skies, or slowing down with a cup of coffee. Movement, fresh air, and reflection are how she reconnects with herself and with her brother, Coleman.
Erica was only six years old when her brother, PFC Coleman Hinkefent, passed away on 20 December 2008, at the age of nineteen. Many of her memories of him have been shaped over time through stories shared by family and friends, stories that speak of a young man full of energy, humor, and heart. Coleman was known as the class clown, the one with the goofiest smile, always making people laugh and feel deeply known. He had a rare ability to unite people, forming bonds that felt more like family than friendship.
Coleman approached his service in the Army the same way he approached life: all in. He served because he felt called to something greater than himself. Even in the desert, he brought joy to those around him and never hesitated to have his comrades’ backs. His life, though far too short, left an enduring impact on everyone who knew him.
Running with wear blue: run to remember allows Erica to revisit those stories and reconnect with her own memories of Coleman. As adulthood brings new challenges, the ache of missing him has grown deeper. On hard days, she finds herself wishing she could ask him how he loved others so well through both joy and struggle. Running in blue has become a way to walk that lifelong journey of healing alongside others who understand loss.
Sunsets hold special meaning for Erica. Coleman was an artist, always doodling or playing the drums, and whenever she sees a beautiful sky, she calls it a “Coleman sky.” On long runs, when the sun begins to set, she feels closer to him, reminded that his presence and influence remain.
Being a Gold Star sister has profoundly shaped Erica’s view of the world. She learned early the true cost of freedom and the brevity of life. For her, honoring Coleman means standing proudly for the national anthem, thanking veterans for their service, and living fully knowing someone she loved paid the ultimate sacrifice. Through wear blue, Erica honors Coleman not only by remembering him, but by continuing to carry his joy, love, and light forward.
Erica, is one of five children. Coleman was the middle child, then Erica, and Haley, also running in the 2026 Cowtown Marathon with the Gold Star and Survivor Endurance Program cohort.
Running in blue doesn’t erase the loss, but it fills a small part of the hole Coleman left in her heart. Each step is a reminder that healing is lifelong, and that his impact continues, one mile at a time.
