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As a proud American I decide to participate in this great event in Mineola and Denton, Texas.
I ran with a group of about 15 runners at 3:30am Saturday 10/27 from Mineola to Silver Lake which was about 7 miles. In that hour of running in the cool dark morning following the Mineola Fire Truck holding the FLAG with fellow Americans it touched my American spirit. We warned each other of pot holes and road kill (lots of road kill on Hwy 80), shared stories of why we came to carry the FLAG, told jokes, bragged, laughed and cried. I will never forget seeing a family standing along the road hold candles and waving. The lone coyote who crossed in front of us, the honking of horns by passing cars/trucks, and the great support from Mineola (100+ people came out to cheer and even offered free breakfast at 3:30am in 40 degree weather). Another highlight was meeting a American Airlines pilot who was carrying a staff that had a black ribbon for each airline employee who died on 9/11 and being able to carrying the staff with thoughts of gratitude and sadness. An experience like this is hard to let go of so I didn't.
On Sunday 10/28 at 4:30 am I arrived in Denton to run again. The Base Camp was at the Denton Mall parking lot and what a camp it was. Food, Tents, Lights and sea of people....runners, support staff, family members all smiling in the cool 40 degree dark morning. I was carpooled up the road to 35W and 380 with a group of airline runner to meet the FLAG from Base Camp. I jumped in and for the next 9.5 miles of running to Sanger we all shared in the memory of carrying the FLAG, telling stories, and warning each other of road hazards. I truly won't forget the Texas Rangers saluting, the sound of each 18 wheeler honking, the 10 Army Reserve runners who proudly held the FLAG high when it was their turn and the motorist who stopped along the highway got out of his car and saluted the FLAG. At the Sanger Dairy Queen we ended by circling up and saying the Pledge. Another group headed north with the FLAG, the Airlines Staff and support vehicle.
From my experience, UNITED WE STAND is true and if you don't believe it, look around at all the FLAGS.......on cars, walls, t-shirts, windows, etc. Thanks for letting me share my experience.
Keep smiling fellow Americans and remember to give blood regularly.
Tom
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