Hi everyone,

I have been fortunate to be able to participate in the Flag Run along with eight others from Newport Athletic Club. At aprox. 11:20 PM on Thursday October 11, one month after that terrible day, we picked up the Flag in North Kingstown at the corner of Frenchtown Rd. and Rt 1 (Post Rd.) from a group of Army National Guardsman who were dressed in their green Army issue shorts and gray tee shirts with ARMY in big black letters across their chests. We could here them chanting "USA! USA!" before we could see them. As excited as we were to be involved, hearing those guys coming just got us really pumped. I ran into the street to meet them and pick up the Flag. As they dropped off, our group fell in behind me and we continued to carry the Colors on Her journey across America. What a feeling!!! We ran by a small firehouse in North Kingstown where a bunch of firemen and policemen were standing outside cheering us. As we p

As we continued our run we took turns carrying the Flag. It was a funny thing, whoever took the Flag seemed to get an immediate jolt of adrenaline and they would dash out in front, I mean way out in front, without even realizing it and the rest of us would have to catch up a bit. It seemed to energize us and propel us forward towards it's destination; across America to LA to complete the mission of Flight 11. We completed our turn with the Flag by passing it to one of our most respected and loved team members, Mary, who has been so inspirational to all of us over the years and she proudly handed it off to the next group, completing our mission. Mary found out the next day that her son, a Marine in Washington D.C. was also going to be part of the run, carrying the Flag through our nation's capital. As it turned out her 14 year old grandson also participated. How cool is that! At the end I shook hands with Jim Handleman, one of the event organizers (and an American Airlines pilot who lost 2 friends on.

I probably won't get to ground zero, but I am proud to have been part of this event and do a little something to show the world our strength and resolve. It is an event I'll never forget and I'll never forget those who ran with me. It was quite a night! God Bless America!!

James A. Lilley

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