Freedom Walk date set

September 02, 2008 12:21 am

— Downtown Muskogee Inc., the Muskogee Main Street Program, is sponsoring a Freedom Walk at 7 a.m. Sept. 11. The walk will begin at the Civic Center parking lot and then cover a two-mile walk along the south loop of Centennial Trail. The Freedom Walk is intended to call Americans to reflect upon the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and remember their families and those who responded on that fateful day in American history, according to a media release from Downtown Muskogee Inc.
The event is part of a growing national tradition called “America Supports You Freedom Walk” created by Pentagon employees in 2005. Wishing to pay tribute to the heroes of 9/11 and show support for veterans and active duty military personnel, a walk was undertaken from the Pentagon to the Washington Mall. Last year 255 communities participated, the release states.
“We thought the Freedom Walk was especially appropriate for Muskogee,” said Downtown Muskogee Executive Director Jonita Mullins. “We lost a hometown hero in Ron Milam in the Pentagon attack. We also are a community that supports our troops. The Freedom Walk will give us an opportunity to reflect and remember.”
The Freedom Walk will begin with a brief ceremony, and participants will walk from the Civic Center to the south loop trail head on South Fifth Street. At the one-mile mark, a banner will be available for Muskogeeans to sign their thoughts, prayers and support for our troops. The Blue Star Mothers will then send the banner to a unit in Iraq.
Downtown Muskogee would also welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to help with this event or future events. To volunteer: 683-2400.
More information about the America Supports You Freedom Walk: americasupportsyou.mil/freedomwalk.