FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley started its annual Victory Week with the Victory Run at Fort Riley June 11.

More than 7,000 of the Big Red One’s Soldiers representing units at Fort Riley and deployed ran a three-mile loop on Custer Hill.

Less than two hours after the run ended, Soldiers were hitting the courts, fields, and tables in a variety of competitions ranging from volleyball to video games.

In addition to sporting events and entertainment, Victory Week also honors the sacrifice made by Big Red One Soldiers. Forty-three new bricks will be unveiled in Victory Park during a ceremony Wednesday morning in front of division headquarters. Each brick represents one Soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice in the past year.

The week winds down June 14 with a cake cutting ceremony in a dual-birthday celebration. This year marks the 95th birthday for the Big Red One and 237th for the U.S. Army.