23, 24 October 2001 - Mike Burr with Gary Rivenson

I arrived back in Meridian after a wonderful and much needed break with my family. I accompanied Pack 364 with my son for his first Boy Scout camping trip, and was able to watch my daughter play soccer. I would not have missed this trip for anything. The kids and the parents were remarkable. I was able to get some much needed R&R... even if it was in a tent on the hard ground at 35 degrees... and spent some quality time with my son. Pack Leaders Dave Giapponi and Steve Kelleher surprised me at the end of the boy’s skit on Saturday night. They performed a great skit about the meaning of the Stars and Stripes. Dave remarked that the Flag was being run across America by former scouts. He then introduced me to the astonished crowd of scouts and parents. The chanting of USA, USA, is something I will never forget. Patriotism is alive and well in America... mission accomplished.

I flew into Meridian, MS three hours ahead of the Flag. A special thanks to the following Delta/Delta Connection employees who treated me like gold: CA Bill Bodine, FO Lauren Lippincott, CA Jeffrey Mann, FO Steven Burk, FA’s Kimberly King, Michelle Wright, Leslie Wey, Howard Ehler, Pamela Brown, and Brandy Coffey. Agents Irving Williams and Smitty in Atlanta were true professionals. Thanks. I joined the procession east of Meridian and quickly assumed the low key role as Bobby Bouchet (Waterboy). MS coordinator, Mike Cummings had everything under control and was firmly in command. We arrived in Meridian and were joined by Frank LaCorte and Todd Wissing. Todd looked like death warmed over as he conducted yet another press conference. The crowd warmly received our comments and I enjoyed seeing Mike Cummings, a hometown boy, address his neighbors. After the show, we ran with the Army in formation... on our way westward toward Jackson.

Gary arrived in Jackson, Mississippi late on Tuesday after five days of recurrent training in Dallas. Spun up on what was going on with the run, which we found out to be in fine shape as MS Coordinator, AA F/O (NY based)... .and Meridian, MS resident Mike Cummings had the state organization running smoothly. You may have no idea what it takes to get a state organization up and running; media, Police, Fire Department, EMS, and US military escort and support, transportation logistics, and soliciting and signing up runners and volunteers. ... .with very little time to do it. Mike Cummings did a fine job running the state, as well as running and staying up for a day and a half in the process. Mike and Gary caught up with the procession on the steps of the State Capitol. There was a moving ceremony of speeches, most notably by Governor Ronnie Musgrove. He taught us all how speeches are supposed to be made. We hope to post a transcript of his very moving, (and brief!!) speech. The traditional southern hospitality was evident and then some. It was perhaps the warmest reception we’ve seen so far. Of worthy note was the enthusiastic escort of the MS State Highway Patrol. These guys stuck with us all the way, not to mention providing their own entertainment with the motorcycle equivalent of formation flying and aerobatics. Looming ahead was the Vicksburg Bridge issue that was not yet resolved. Mike and I left the run in Clinton, MS, where there was a wild reception of runners and supporters right in the middle of Route 80 as the Flag was accompanied by ten runners abreast right down the middle of the highway. We drove west to see what was up with crossing the bridge, and just so happened to stage our “office” on the Louisiana side of the bridge, at the World Bar, Delta, LA.

Ahhh... the World Bar. Yankees might call it “Redneck”. We found it to be an oasis of hospitality and real authentic middle America. Pool tables, darts, $1 Buds, a blaring jukebox, with actually some pretty decent music, an invitation to scrawl graffiti on the walls, an old decrepit heater named “The Titanic”, and a drive up window behind the bar. We set up our laptops in a room that hasn’t even had a working television in 10 years and went to work. Mike and I had such a good time there we considered moving to Delta, LA. That was until we returned later that night with the flag to find out about the mosquitoes that were the size of small dogs.

But I digress... . We went back across the river to meet the MS runners at the foot of the infamous Vicksburg Bridge. As luck would have it, one of the runners for the last leg in MS was Mack, the Assistant Bridge Commissioner, and member of the Mississippi Track Club. As Mike polled the runners to see who signed the required He paved the way for the seamless crossing of the Mississippi, and rather than the originally approved two runners, we proceeded across with a group of well over 20. As the sun set over the Mississippi, we ran across the Vicksburg Bridge... one of the most beautiful sights we’ve seen throughout this adventure. It’s always sad to leave a state behind, and might forget to thank all of those behind that helped get the Flag this far. Mike Cummings and his group, and I apologize for not remembering many of the names, put on a fantastic display of resolve and patriotism. Scheduled arrival on the Louisiana side of the river was 6:30 pm. We arrived at 6:30... ..it was a beautiful thing.

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