ROA��U.S. FreedomWalk returns

The second annual ROA-U.S. FreedomWalk Festival[TM] will take place in Washington, D.C., Saturday and Sunday, 20 and 21 September 2003. This physical and educational activity challenges individuals, families, units, companies, youth and school groups, and is a great event for ROTC and JROTC programs countrywide.

In a new presentation for 2003, the gold device and special streamer will be awarded to units and individuals who walk the two longest trails, totaling 76 kilometers (as in 1776). Saturday's ultra-marathon (44 kilometers or 27 miles), the Mount-to-Hill Trail, will go from the Purple Heart Memorial at the entrance to George Washington's Mount Vernon to Capitol Hill. Sunday's 32-kilometer (20-mile) trail goes to the German Embassy and the National Geographic Society's Explorers Hall and back to the ROA Minuteman Building.

In addition to individual and team awards, trophies will be awarded to the largest participating ROTC and JROTC units. To be eligible, units must walk at least 20 kilometers each day.

The Reserve Officers Association will host a social gathering for all ROTC and JROTC groups on Saturday evening, 20 September. This will be an opportunity to meet with peers from around the United States and the world.

For more information and registration details, go to ROA's Web site, where you can link directly to www.usfreedomwalk.org.

In 2002, five JROTC and ROTC units walked trails through Washington's national monuments, memorials, and parks. The paths are chosen to honor American freedoms, the men and women who sacrificed to create and sustain them, and international friendships our country shares with our allies. On each day, the groups could walk different trails of 6, 12, and 20 kilometers (3,7, and 12 miles).

Last year, all who participated received the U.S. Freedom Walk Medal and certificate; units that walked the two 12-mile trails received the silver device for their medals. The three units that received the silver device and special flag streamer were teams from Norwich University ROTC, Northfield, Vt.; the Army JROTC program at Huguenot High School, Richmond, Va.; and the Navy JROTC program at Green Run High School, Virginia Beach, Va. Individuals who walked the same distances received the bronze device.

Colonel Miner is the chairman, ROA-U.S. Freedom Walk Festival.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Reserve Officers Association of the United States
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group