Some miles are measured by distance. Others are measured by the person being remembered.

In Montgomery County, a young runner recently completed one of the latter, carrying a flag for one mile in memory of Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Erika Serrato, the 24-year-old deputy who died in the line of duty on June 28, 2026.

The memorial run was organized through Running 4 Heroes Inc., a nonprofit whose youth runners complete one-mile tributes for first responders who have died in the line of duty. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office employees joined youth runner Declan as he ran in Serrato’s honor, turning the organization’s national mission into a deeply local moment of remembrance.

Following the run, Declan presented Serrato’s family with the flag carried during the memorial event. Running 4 Heroes also shared behind-the-scenes moments from the tribute, including Declan watching as the honor guard prepared the flag before it was presented to Serrato’s mother.

For a community that has spent the months since June mourning a young deputy whose law enforcement career was still unfolding, the ceremony offered another opportunity to say her name and remember the person behind the badge.

Remembering Montgomery County Deputy Erika Serrato

Serrato was born July 11, 2001, in Houston and was the youngest daughter of Leticia and Rodolfo Serrato. Her obituary remembers her as a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend with a compassionate nature, an infectious laugh and a willingness to listen to and encourage others.

Her career with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office began when she was 18. Serrato first served as a detention officer and spent six years with the agency. She fulfilled a longtime goal when she became a deputy sheriff in early 2026.

That career was cut short in the early morning hours of June 28.

Deputies had responded at approximately 2:40 a.m. to a multi-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 45 near the Woodlands Parkway exit. While Serrato was outside her vehicle directing traffic near marked patrol vehicles with emergency lights activated, she was struck by a heavy-duty commercial vehicle pulling a trailer. She was transported to a hospital, where she died from her injuries. Another Montgomery County deputy was also injured.

Serrato was 24 years old.

Her death prompted an outpouring of support across Montgomery County. Law enforcement officers and community members later gathered for her funeral at The Woodlands Church, where she was honored with a procession, bagpipes, a helicopter flyover and a gun salute.

At the service, Sheriff Wesley Doolittle recalled the pride he felt when he pinned Serrato’s deputy badge on her uniform and spoke about carrying her memory forward through continued service.

Months later, that promise to remember her took a different form: a child, a flag and a single mile.

Who Is Declan, the Running 4 Heroes Youth Runner?

Declan is a Texas youth runner with Running 4 Heroes Inc. According to the organization, he has family members and friends who serve as first responders, and his involvement in Cub Scouts has helped foster an interest in service and leadership. He is also a runner and competitive swimmer.

His participation in the Serrato memorial carries added meaning because the mission is not simply about completing a run. Each mile is intended to connect a fallen first responder’s name and story with another generation.

Earlier this year, Declan’s work also received recognition at the state level. According to information shared by Running 4 Heroes, Texas State Rep. Terri Leo Wilson helped bring his efforts to the attention of Gov. Greg Abbott, and the 10-year-old received a Texas flag that had flown over the State Capitol.

The Montgomery County memorial, however, brought that mission face to face with the people who knew and loved the deputy he was running for.

How Running 4 Heroes Began

The story behind Running 4 Heroes Inc. also began with a young runner.

Zechariah Cartledge founded the nonprofit in 2019 when he was 10 years old. Cartledge had developed an appreciation for first responders and a love of running, and an experience at the Tunnel to Towers 5K in Orlando helped inspire what would eventually become Running 4 Heroes.

The concept is straightforward but personal: youth runners complete one mile for first responders who die in the line of duty. Flags carried during the tributes are provided to surviving families, creating a tangible connection between the memorial mile and the loved ones left behind.

What began with Cartledge has since grown to include other youth runners around the country. The Florida-based 501(c)(3) organization also supports first responders and surviving families through additional programs.

That national mission became especially personal in Montgomery County when Declan ran for Serrato.

A Flag Comes Home to Deputy Serrato’s Family

There was no finish-line celebration in the traditional sense.

Instead, the most important moment came afterward.

Declan presented the flag from his memorial run to Serrato’s family, following the same tradition that has become central to Running 4 Heroes. The organization said he also had an opportunity to watch the honor guard prepare the flag before its presentation to Serrato’s mother.

It was a small ceremony compared with the large funeral procession that moved through Montgomery County in July, but that was part of what made the tribute personal. A young runner had learned Serrato’s name, carried a flag in her honor and placed that symbol of remembrance into the hands of the family that knew her simply as Erika.

For residents across Montgomery County, Conroe and The Woodlands, the memorial is also a reminder that the impact of a line-of-duty death continues long after the initial headlines and public ceremonies have passed.

Serrato was a deputy, but she was also a daughter, sister, aunt, friend and colleague. She entered public service as a teenager, spent six years with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and had only recently reached her goal of becoming a deputy when her life ended.

Running 4 Heroes was founded on the idea that those stories should continue to be told.

In Montgomery County, one young runner helped make sure Erika Serrato’s story traveled at least one more mile.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Montgomery County community news, local public safety updates and stories recognizing the people who serve their neighbors.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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