Hello Folks,

I'm Gary Boettcher, the Virginia coordinator for the National Flag Run. I'm a pilot for American Airlines, a military veteran, and friend of many of those who lost their lives last month.

First, let me thank you all for your participation in this event. So many of us feel the need to do something during this worldwide crisis but have no direct way to get involved. I believe this crusade to carry the United States Flag across America will become a life long memory that you will all treasure for the rest of your memorable lives. I'm sure that once you are in place and see that unfurled Flag coming toward you the emotion will well up inside and for some tears may even fall. The sacrifices you make to participate in this event will be repaid in a tremendous feeling of personal satisfaction. Again, my heart felt thanks.

We have been designated to run, beginning at the Memorial Bridge at the DC/Va border, down along the running trail by the bridge, hopefully through the south parking lot and along ground zero of the Pentagon, join Route 1 and follow it all the way through the heartland of Virginia. We expect to see the Flag cross the Memorial Bridge at about 8:00 am on the morning of October 15, 2001. The plan is to run around the clock to the North Carolina border. I have divided the Commonwealth into 4 zones as identified below:

• Zone I (Northern Va): Memorial Bridge selected route to Prince William/Stafford county border just south of Triangle

• Zone II (Fredericksburg): Prince William/Stafford county border just south of Triangle continue down Rt 1 to the Anna River

• Zone III (Richmond/Colonial Heights): Anna River continue down Rt 1 to the Appomattox River

• Zone IV (South Va): Appomattox River continue down Rt 1 to the Va/NC border

The header/subject line of each of your emails will read as "Flag Run Zone __. That subject line will indicate the zone I have placed you in. I need to hear back from each person to verify that they are willing to run in that zone. I have placed each individual as close to their home as possible, while still fulfilling the needs of the run. As more people sign up, those who are furthest away from home will be move incrementally as close as possible to your home address.

We are basing the run on an average of 11 minutes a mile. Some run much faster than that, some novice runners will struggle to do that. You folks who run a 7 minute a mile or faster, expect to be slower because you are going to carry a flag. A harness will be provided that fits around your waist and shoulders to help hold the staff. The staff is light, but with any kind of wind, it will slow you down a bit. I will have some standby runners (I hope) incase someone gets sick or has a personal emergency. We will have EMTs following us or on call. There will be two chase vehicles.

More details will be provided, as we get closer to our start time. If you have friends or family that would like to come with you on the run that will be OK, but there will only be one primary Flag runner per segment. The primary Flag runner will be provided a special Flag run tee shirt. Most legs will be 2.5 miles long. A few will be shorter for the novice runners. For the serious runner, I'll set you up with a longer leg or two shorter legs. I'm waiting for feedback from the Boston runners to see how much the flag impacts your rhythm. If running with the flag works out ok, I'll give you a 7-mile leg or longer but you have to email me a special request.

Again, I need to hear back from each individual runner to verify your participation and agreement with the zone you have been place in. I don't want any surprises come Flag Run day.

I'm doing all this runner coordination by myself right now, so it may be a day or two before I get back to you with a personal request.

May God Bless,

Gary Boettcher aacoach@juno.com
540-555-5555