Diary entry from Hillcrest Christian School in Jackson, Mississippi

The 9th grade girls basketball team and crosscountry team from Hillcrest Christian School in Jackson, Mississippi, carried the flag from Edwards to the Mississippi River bridge in Vicksburg on October 24. It took us from 1:00 to 6:00. When we got to Vicksburg we were close to an hour ahead of schedule.The basketball team started off thinking we were only going to run 2 miles and the cross-country team would run about six. We would run one mile, and then they would take us a couple miles ahead and we would run another mile. We started off and we ran 2 miles before we finally stopped. Then we decided to keep going and we ended up taking it to Vicksburg. We had planned to stop there, but we all agreed that we wanted to go all the way to the bridge.

When we started back off, some guys from Chamberlain-Hunt Academy had joined us in the running. It was another 6 to 8 miles to the bridge, and someone on the basketball team and cross-country team was out running the whole way. Everyone ran at least 5 or 6 miles.

Andrew White, who lost a relative in the attacks and is on the cross-country team, ran a total of 17 miles. It was about 20 miles from Edwards to Vicksburg. We had to be told to slow down several times at first, but then we found a good pace. At the last mile or half mile, we all got out to run to the bridge and we all crossed the line together.

At the bridge, we held a short prayer, and took a bunch of pictures. We were all tired, hot, and sweaty, but it was worth it. We did this for our country and for the people who lost their families in the September attacks.

Hillcrest Christian School