22-03-2025
Flag-touting runner to carry stars and stripes from Grand Rapids to Sand Lake
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — On average, 22 military veterans lose their lives to suicide each day. One Grand Rapids runner is gaining momentum as he uses his endurance to shed light on that tragic number.
Zach Baker is a familiar face throughout West Michigan. He runs each and every day. And when he does, no matter the conditions, he carries a large American flag mounted on about a four-foot pole. It's a visual he says makes him stand out for all the right reasons.
'People like to stop me and ask about it,' Baker, a Northview graduate, said. 'The biggest thing that keeps me going is if there are people on the trail, give me a quick fist bump, look at the flag. It just gives me chills when people admire the flag.'
Saturday, the 22nd day of the month, Baker is running 22 miles starting at the Grand Rapids home for veterans. He'll work his way north on the White Pine Trail all the way to Sand Lake, carrying the stars and stripes with him no matter what the weather conditions are.
Baker got the idea to run with the flag on the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11. He says carrying the flag is often a catalyst for important conversations, something he's always willing to slow down for.
'I just hope people realize that mental health is a problem in this world,' he explains. 'And that's just me honoring America for the 22 a day. I'm just one person out there trying to make an impact on such a big problem.'
Baker will begin his run around 8 a.m., hoping to finish up in Sand Lake around 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. — an impressive pace considering the cold and windy conditions on Saturday. You'll also see him, and his flag, racing 15 kilometers at the River Bank Run in May.
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