‘Makes you proud to be an American': Veterans running across US reach East TN
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Over the course of the last two weeks, a dozen military veterans have been running across the country raising money and awareness for veteran health services.
Team Red, White and Blue started planning the Old Glory Ultra Relay last year. They started running in San Diego and have their sights set on Washington D.C. On Thursday night, one of the runners made their way through Turkey Creek.
Team Red White and Blue is an organization that provides health and wellness opportunities to military veterans. The Old Glory Ultra Relay showcases what veterans are capable of when they return home.
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'We really decided that we wanted to do something impactful and epic and show the American people what veterans are capable of,' said Team Red, White and Blue deputy director John Pinter. 'Health and wellness is not good in America in general right now, I don't think that's any secret. It's actually worse in the veteran community. For the first time really since they've ever been recording it, veterans are more unhealthy than the general population.'
State Senator Richard Briggs of Knoxville has nearly 40 years of active and reserve military service. He came out to Turkey Creek as a runner came through. Briggs said it makes him proud to be an American to see how peopled reacted to the runners.
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'People were getting out of their cars. They were cheering and they were waving,' Briggs said. 'We watch these things that happen on television, we think maybe our country is divided and will never be the same. You see these guys running across the country and carrying a flag from California to Washington D.C., you see how ordinary citizens are reacting. It makes you proud to be an American and gives you hope that America will continue to be the greatest country in the world.'
The group has been met with widespread public support across the country.
'We have been met with nothing but support from the American people. It's been really, really meaningful to kind of see what that's like,' Pinter said. 'Schools, little kids, I mean everyone has been super supportive of this and it really kind of recharges your batteries. I think as veterans we were all like 'hey this is the America we signed up to defend.'
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The 12 runners are broken up into four teams each group running an eight-hour shift. I was told there is non-stop movement as someone is on the ground running 24 hours a day until they get to D.C. Pinter said they expect to be in Kingsport by 10:00 a.m. Friday and are hoping to be in Washington D.C. by Sunday afternoon.
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