October 28, 2001

The day might have began as any other day but today was special. Today we would bring the Flag thought Southern Oklahoma. We had worked hard to help coordinate the event and the time had come. Not only would we carry the Stars and Stripes but we would also carry the Oklahoma Flag as a reminder of Oklahoma's close ties to terrorism.

All of the team worked diligently the past week preparing for the Flag run and we were anxious to start. I was especially excited because today I would receive the Flag from the Texas runners at the Oklahoma border. We even had a special "T" shirt to commutate the event.

We started setting up the Ardmore Staging area at 10:00 AM by opening up Nobel Stadium, setting up the tables, assigning the responsibilities to the Volunteers, going over last minute details, all with the hope that we would help make this day a special day for everyone participating in today's unprecedented event.

The Flag exchange would occur at 1:00 PM at the Texas Visitors Center north of Gainesville, Texas and a couple of miles south of the Oklahoma border. We left the staging area at 12:00 noon and proceeded to travel the 37 miles south to the exchange area. During the ride we introduced ourselves and discussed the events that led up to the days activity and the honor we felt to participate in the Flag run. As we proceeded south and came upon the border the roads were already crowded with participants. Cars were lining up on the side roads. I could hardly believe my eyes.

Upon entered the Texas Visitors Center we observed the Texas runners while the Police and Fire department's escorted them to the Exchange point. Anxiously we jumped out of our vehicle to meet the runners. I was overwhelmed with the size of the crowd and everyone's excitement.

I think most of the runners and their family members were there to witness the ceremony. My daughter had flown in form NYC, my wife, parents, sister and brother-in-law had all come to share this day.

We were truly witnessing a piece of history in our own back yard, for the time had come for us to join hands with the rest of our nation to demonstrate our unity and resolve, by running the Flag through our own communities.

The Flag was handed to me to begin our journey and I was filled with emotion; happiness for the privileged to be part of something bigger than all of us and sad for the events that brought us here.

The run from the Visitors Center to the Oklahoma/Texas border would be about 3 miles and we all shared the Flag as we ran by a endless stream of people. As we approached the border I officially received the Flag to take into our State of Oklahoma. We shared the Flag all along the bridge and then I again ran the Flag the last 50 feet to Oklahoma soil. The roads were still filled with people.

As we approached the small community of Thackerville I was again amazed. I think the whole town showed up. I remember observing people crying, saluting and taking their hats off. We stopped many times to let them hold or touch the Flag. A few times we invited children and adults to run with the flag. It was absolutely incredible.

The miles north of Thackerville are populated with Farms and ranches but even so we would see people waiting for a glimpse of the Flag at each intersection. At one point a train passed going south. The Engineer blew the whistle and waved as he went by.

I remember feeling so connected with every person we encountered. I am convinced that they had the same experience.

Three miles north of Thackerville and about 11 miles in to the run I exited in order to go back to the Staging area and help with the logistics.

While we drove back to Ardmore I kept seeing people along the road; we would slow down and tell them where the runners were and they would just smile. As we entered Marietta I was amazed at the crowd. The streets were lined with cars and people and the runners were still 1 1/2 hours away from Marietta. There were two cherry pickers, one on either side of the road, up about 50 feet, supporting what might be the largest American Flag I have ever seen. A Oklahoma Television station was standing by and waiting.

When I reached the staging area we continued the task of transporting runners back and forth. One thing was for sure, as the day progressed our plans constantly adapted to the current conditions.

When 7:00 PM arrived I went with the next group of runners to the Ardmore City limits and began the next to the last 5 mile leg through our home town. Ardmore greeted everyone with open arms. We had a sheriff, police, fire department, and horse mounted patrol escort us through town.

Within two miles we would turn to the Veterans Administration Hospital to greet the patients. Early in the day a man came by and requested to take the Flag around the VA Hospital, so upon arrival he carried the Flag to the Veterans. The Flag was passed to each Veterans while the runners shook their hands. As we stood there, I thought that this might be the first time some of them were told how much they were appreciated.

As we ran thought town we witnessed everyone's pride and we stopped numerous times for people to touch the Flag. With the addition of "sideline" runners and the local schools our group had grown to 50 or more runners. It was exciting to help the children carry the Flag as we got closer to our destination.

When we turned the corner to the Stadium, where we would have our ceremony, we met runners that had participated along the way and those that would take the last leg. We stopped to allow the local American Airlines employees to take the Flag into Nobel Stadium in front of a packed crowd. We followed behind and eventually ran the Flag around the track a few times to patriotic music.

Everyone connected that night as we sang the National Anthem. Afterwards we quietly left the stadium for the final leg of the Ardmore Flag run.

The next group proceeded 8 miles, 3 miles more than planned, to Springer, Oklahoma were a Army reserve unit would take the Flag on the long nights journey north. The next group made up all the lost time with 20 minutes to spare before arriving in Lexington, Oklahoma.

To say that this is a experience of a lifetime is a understatement. I know I will never forget and I am convinced no one else will either. All of us felt privileged to participate and thankful for all the support along the way.

I would like to especially thank my, the Oklahoma coordinators, National coordinators, my wife, Angel Johnson, the Ardmore Amateur Radio club, Al Hamilton, all the volunteers (whose names are to numerous for me to remember), everyone along the way, and the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce for all their help and commitment to the support the Ardmore portion of the Flag run across America.

Click on the Links Below to Visit Our Sponsors Registered Event Promoters