OUR FINAL DAY

WE MADE IT, AND WHAT A TRIP IT WAS!

SUCH AN EMOTIONAL DAY, WE WALKED THE MT VERNON TRAIL INTO WASHINGTON DC AND WERE GREETED BY WELL WISHERS AND THE MEDIA.

WE CULMINATED OUR MISSION ON THE NATIONAL MALL, WHERE WE WALKED UP THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND TURNED TO GAZE IN TO THE REFLECTION POOL, A VERY EMOTIONAL PAUSE.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING AT 10:30 AM. WE WERE INVITED TO LAY A "WALK A MILE FOR A SOLDIER" WREATH AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, GRATEFUL WE WERE ABLE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN SOLDIERS WE WERE DEDICATING OUR ENTIRE MARCH TO , WE THEN WERE INVITED TO MEET THE TOMB GUARDS IN THEIR QUARTERS AND ABSORB QUITE A BIT OF VERY PRESTIGIOUS HISTORY.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LISA ANN MAYNARD FOR ALL YOUR HELP IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN FOR US.

I AM SO VERY PROUD OF MY "BATTALION". I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, AND I CAN SAY I WOULD GO ONTO THE FRONT LINES WITH ANY OF YOU IN HEARTBEAT!

WE HAD A GREAT MIX OF WEATHER, WHICH ONLY ADDED TO THE SENSE OF BEING A SOLDIER! THE HARDER IT RAINED AND THE HOTTER IT GOT THE LIGHTER OUR FEET FELT!

WE WERE JUST AS ENTHUSIASTIC THE LAST DAY AS WE WERE WHEN WE LEFT THE FIRE STATION THE PREVIOUS SUNDAY AND WE NEVER WAVERED THE ENTIRE WEEK.

WE HIT SEVERAL HIGH POINTS ON OUR JOURNEY, WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE MOTHER OF A FALLEN SOLDIER, MANY WHO HAVE SERVED, AND MANY WHO LOVE OUR MILITARY AS MUCH AS WE DO!

I PERSONALLY HAVE COME AWAY FROM THIS MISSION WITH MORE THAN I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED, AND I CAN SAY FOR CERTAIN THAT MY MISSION DID NOT END IN WASHINGTON DC.

I WILL, AS SOON AS I AM ABLE TO, START TO DRAFT OUR NEXT MISSION, I WILL TELL YOU THAT I HAVE LEARNED MANY THINGS ON THIS TRIP, AND I WILL WHEN I AM ABLE, PUT THE EXPERIENCE INTO WORDS AND POST FOR ALL TO SHARE.

LAYING A 'WALK A MILE FOR A SOLDIER" WREATH AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
PRAYERS FOR OUR FALLEN HEROES

 

 

KRISTA DORAZIO, LORRAINE VARRONE AND MARCIA HAWKINS....LOVING THE RAIN

WE STARTED IN NOTTINGHAM PA AND VENTURED INTO RISING SUN MD, WE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME, THE SUPPORT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS AND WE ARE LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

WE WILL BE WALKING OUTSIDE OF BALTIMORE ON SATURDAY STARTING HARVE DE GRACE MD OUR ROUTE IS ABOUT 27 MILES AND WE MAY DO MORE AS WE ARE HAVING TOO MUCH FUN.

FOR OUR LAST DAY INTO DC WE WILL BE WALKING THE MT. VERNON TRAIL OVER TO THE NATIONAL MALL.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR EMAILS AND TO OUR NEW FRIENDS WE MADE ALONG THE WAY, WE WILL BE BACK TO VISIT YOU SOON!

STEVE GOT ME IN TOUCH WITH BRANDEN'S MOM JILL

MARCIA AND JILL HARDY, HER SON BRANDEN A MARINE DIED IN OIF 4-28-06
WE WILL BE FRIENDS FOREVER JILL

WE STARTED OUR DAY IN PARKESBURG PA, THIS JUST GOT THE TEAM GOING, WE WERE IN AWE OF THE SCENERY, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE THE HEARTLAND OF AMERICA.

WE HAD A WONDERFUL RECEPTION FROM THE TOWN'S PEOPLE, THEY ALL CAME OUT TO GREET US AND WISH US WELL.

WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ESPECIALLY TO CECIL, SHANNON, AND MARIE AT HIGHLAND SERVICES, HELLO TO STEVE LUBRANO AT LUBRANO'S AUTOMOTIVE , WE ALL ENJOYED YOU AND YOUR STORIES!

A WARM THANK YOU TO THE GIRLS FROM THE MISS OXFORD DINER THERESA, LINDA, PAM, AND ANGELICA, AND OF COURSE WE CANNOT FORGET OUR NEW FRIEND CHUCK ADAMS AN AIR FORCE VET, SORRY YOUR CHICKEN TENDERS GOT COLD WHILE WE TOOK PICTURES!

WE WENT THROUGH THE TOWNS OF COCHRANVILLE, RUSSELLVILLE, AND OXFORD, AND WE ENDED DAY 5 IN NOTTINGHAM.

THANK YOU TO THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF THIS VERY SPECIAL AREA, WE WILL COME BACK FOR A VISIT FOR SURE.

MEETING UP WITH BOB FRANSEN FROM VERNON CT

STOPPING FOR DINNER DAY 3

CHUCK ADAMS AIR FORCE VET WAS VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT OUR WALK A MILE FOR A SOLDIER TOUR

BRANDEN HARDY'S MOM JILL HARDY CAME OUT TO SEE US, BRANDEN WAS KILLED IN OIF 16 MONTHS AGO.

WE STARTED OUR DAY IN EDISON NJ, WE HAD A LIGHT RAIN ALL DAY BUT OUR SPIRIT WAS GREAT.
WE THEN WALKED ABOUT 30 MILES TO PRINCETON NJ, PASSING THROUGH SOMERSET, NEW BRUNSWICK, PASSED BY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.

WE WERE WELL RECEIVED BY ALL WHO CAME OUT TO SEE US, WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE EMAILS AND CALLS FROM SUPPORTERS.

WE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME AND NOW WE ARE HEADED FOR PENNSYLVANIA FOR OUR NEXT LEG.

WALKING THROUGH PRINCETON NJ

WALKING THROUGH PRINCETON NJ WELL WISHERS CAME OUT, EVEN SAID PRAYERS FOR OUR TROOPS WITH US!
LINDA BOEKHOUT OF FRANKLIN PARK NJ CAME OUT TO SEE US AND DONATE TO OUR SOLDIERSVILLAGE FARMS WALTER BONCZKIEWICZ FAMILY
PURCHASED 4 T-SHIRTS TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION.

WE LEFT CROMWELL CT. A LITTLE LATE YESTERDAY BUT WE MANAGED TO GET TO THE NEW HAVEN AREA.
WE WALKED THROUGH ORANGE,MILFORD, AND STRATFORD AND ENDED OUR DAY IN FAIRFIELD.

WE WERE FOLLOWED BY FOX 61 AND HAD MANY COME OUT TO CHEER AND HONK!

IT POURED ALL DAY, GREAT NEWS, WE WERE HOPING FOR A DAY OF RAIN SO WE COULD REALLY FEEL LIKE A SOLDIER IN THE ELEMENTS.

WE ALL WERE SO EAGER TO WALK IN THE RAIN AND VERY IMPRESSED BY OUR CAMARADERIE, WE ALL SEEM TO BE IN STEP WITH OUR MISSION.

I AM SO VERY PROUD OF MY BATTALION, THEY HAVE MADE THIS TRIP A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE.

WERE OFF TO EDISON,NJ WERE WE ARE HOOKING UP WITH THE ROLLING THUNDER.....DC HERE WE COME.

WE STARTED OFF ON THE MASS/CT STATE LINE TODAY @ 08:00 HOURS WE WERE GREETED BY A FIREMAN WHO HAD HEARD ABOUT US ON THE NEWS AND WANTED TO THANK US.

WE MADE SUCH GREAT TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD GLASTONBURY CT. TO OUR WALK ROUTE, WE ENDED OUR DAY OUTSIDE OF PORTLAND CT.

WE ARE RECEIVING PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS FROM SERVICE MEMBERS PAST AND PRESENT AND WELL WISHERS.

WE HAVE THE MEDIA FOLLOWING US FROM VARIOUS OUTLETS KEEPING THE STATE OF CT. UPDATED ON OUR LOCATION.

WE ARE REFIGURING OUR ROUTE FOR TOMORROW AS WE ARE MAKING BETTER TIME THAN WE HAD PREDICTED, WE WILL POST AS SOON AS WE HAVE IT FINALIZED.
THIS HAS BEEN A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE , SO PROUD OF ALL OF THE WALKERS, I HOPE WE HAVE MADE OUR TROOPS PROUD!

WELL WISHERS COMING OUT TO MEET THE WALKERS THANKS FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY ROCCO AND RITA

BOB FRANSEN HEARD ABOUT US ON THE NEWS AND CAME OUT AND WALKED ABOUT 5 MILES WITH US
HIS SON IS SERVING IN IRAQ HE LIVES IN VERNON CT. HE MAY TRY AND JOIN UP WITH US AGAIN.
THANKS BOB IT WAS WONDERFUL TO MEET YOU.
My father, Bob Fransen (pictured above with Marcia) recently completed a 5 Mile walk with your organization and has a picture on your site. My name is SGT. Brian Fransen and I am stationed in Iraq. This is a picture of myself with some of my fellow soldiers. Above are two (2) pictures from Charlie Co 1-16 INF "Bandido's". Thank you for what you all are doing for the Soldiers here in Iraq. God Bless. GO ARMY!!

JIM AND JUNE JOYCE CAME OUT TO MEET US, JIM IS A RETIRED US NAVY WWII VET
HAPPY 60TH ANNIVERSARY!!!



WE WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED IN CT. STOPPED AT A FEW FIREHOUSES WHERE THERE WERE MANY WHO BELONGED TO THE NATIONAL GUARD.
WE ENJOYED MEETING ALL OF YOU!

DAY 2 WE BEGIN ON THE MASS/CT STATE LINE ON THE
PURPLE HEART MEMORIAL HIGHWAY RT5

HAVING A BLAST ON OUR WALK!

WELL, WE'RE OFF! WE LEFT THE SOUTH DEERFIELD FIRE STATION AT APPROXIMATELY 10:15 AM AFTER A WONDERFUL SEND OFF. THE ENTIRE "BATTALION" WALKED TO NORTHAMPTON WHERE WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH AT SAM'S. THANKS SAM FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! WE WERE THEN TREATED FOR LATTÉS AND SUCH AT STARBUCK'S AND WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE TEAM AT THE NORTHAMPTON STARBUCK'S.
WE HIT OUR FIRST DAY GOAL OF WEST SPRINGFIELD MASS @ 4:45. WE MADE INCREDIBLE TIME.

WE WERE WELL RECEIVED BY ALL WHO DROVE BY OR CAME OUT TO SEE US.

STAYED TUNED FOR DAY 2 OF OUR VENTURE. WE BEGIN AT THE ENFIELD CT, MASS LINE ON RT 5 FOR DAY 2.

 

SUNDAY AUGUST 19TH 2007 09:00 HOURS

KICK OFF RALLY AT THE SOUTH DEERFIELD MA FIRE STATION

MASTER OF CEREMONY WHAI'S BOBBY C

JOIN US AS WE KICK OFF OUR TRIBUTE MARCH FROM DEERFIELD MASS TO WASHINGTON DC

HIGHLIGHTING OUR FINE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR MILITARY

WE HOPE TO CREATE A GROUND SWELL OF GRATITUDE AND THANKS WITH NO POLITICAL TONE TO OUR CAUSE,

WE ARE SIMPLY AMERICANS PAYING TRIBUTE TO OUR BRAVE AND COURAGEOUS TROOPS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, DEPLOYED OR STATESIDE AND

WE DEDICATE OUR MARCH TO THE FALLEN HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES AND TO ENSURE THEM THAT

THEY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT OUR MARCH AND TO EXPAND OUR EFFORTS WITH OUR CARE PACKAGES

FILLED WITH ACU UNIFORMS, BOOTS, HATS, THERMALS, FOOD AND ANYTHING ELSE THEY NEED OR DESIRE, TO HELP WITH THE STRAIN OF THEIR DEPLOYMENTS.

WE FILL EACH BOX WITH WARM WISHES AND LOVE AND ENSURE THEM THAT WE WILL HELP THEM AND SUPPORT THEM IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

SO WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY TO CONVEY TO OUR TROOPS THAT WE AS AMERICANS, IF WE COULD

WE WOULD WALK A MILE IN YOUR BOOTS.

STAY SAFE, STAY PROUD AND WE STAND PROUD OF YOU.

This march is a tribute to our men and women of our fine military and is our way of honoring them for their service. We want them to know that we, the American people, regardless of the political climate, love them, support them, and if we could we would walk a mile for them!

We will also be dedicating the march to those who paid the ultimate price for us and to let their loved ones know they will never be forgotten.

This march is simply a big Thank You to our troops and a dedication to our injured and fallen heroes.

Print the flyer
Our Troops In Action

Walk a Mile for a Soldier Itinerary
Sunday, August 19th 2007 09:00 Hours

March begins at:
South Deerfield Fire station
Greenfield Rd: 09:00 Hours

March will begin with a rally for the troops
Guest speaker: Cathy Belanger
Her son, Sgt. Greg Belanger, was killed in action in Iraq

Master of ceremony:
WHAI's Bobby C.

March will begin promptly at 10:00AM
The Battalion of Walkers plan to end day one of the journey in Springfield, MA.
Day two will end in the Hartford CT. area

We will post each segment and location of origin and end point as we have the information available. Please check back for updates!

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