ROA-U.S. FreedomWalk��a success!

In a family-oriented, non-competitive walking sport event, 493 participants in the first annual ROA-U.S. Freedom-Walk Festival enjoyed perfect weather in Washington, D.C., 28 and 29 September. Participants followed trails of three, six, and 12 miles each day around monuments and memorials of the nation's capital. The event celebrated American freedoms and honored the men and women who sacrificed to create and sustain them.

Each day, walkers started at ROA Headquarters across the street from the U.S. Capitol and proceeded on a marked trail of their choosing.

The walkers were a diverse crowd that ranged in age from an 80-year old veteran to an Army enlisted man's young son who pushed his own stroller around the National Mall. They came from 17 states and one European country; Dr. (Capt.) Marc Lemmermann, a German Reserve officer, traveled from his home in Rinteln, Germany, to be part of the inaugural event. One Reserve general officer also took to the trail. The 150 cadets who participated included seven ROTC students from Norwich University in Vermont, Army Junior ROTC cadets from Huguenot High School and McKinley Academy, Richmond, Va., the Navy JROTC programs of Green Run High School, Virginia Beach, Va., and Annapolis High School, Md.

Each walker who completed the trail received the U.S. Freedom Walk Medal and an embossed certificate. One hundred forty-six participants completed all 24 miles (40 km) to earn a bronze device on their medals. Eightythree cadets received the silver device for completing all 40 km as a group of eight or more. The cadets from Huguenot and Green Run High Schools and the Norwich University cadets who walked with Captain Lemmermann received the silver device.

To honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for American freedoms, cadets assisted the event chairman in wreath-laying ceremonies at the National Law Enforcement Memorial and at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

Volunteers from military associations staffed checkpoints. Appropriately, the first checkpoint was staffed by members of the Major General MacIntosh ROA AF Chapter 1 from the Pentagon.

On Saturday, members of the National Capital Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association staffed the Vietnam Memorial checkpoint. The third checkpoint, at Arlington Cemetery, was staffed by members of the Department of Virginia, Military Order of the Purple Heart. Members of the American Volkssport Association staffed the start and finish at ROA Headquarters.

The second ROA-U.S. FreedomWalk will take place 20 and 21 September 2003. In addition to the six, 12, and 20 km trails both days, there will be an ultra-marathon distance on Saturday. This trail will take walkers from the Purple Heart Memorial (at the Mount Vernon entrance) to the Capitol. Everyone is eligible to participate. For information, go to www.roa.org or visit the booth at the ROA 2003 Mid-Winter Conference.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Reserve Officers Association of the United States
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group