This is very peripheral to Route 66, but it’s too moving to not share.
Mike Ehredt of Driggs, Idaho, is running east across the United States. He’s an ultramarathoner, cyclist, and an Army veteran. He’s running solo, and he has no sponsor.
He’s dedicating each mile to each soldier who has died in the Iraq War since it began in 2003. As of Monday night, the total stood at 4,414. He began his run on May 1 in Oregon at the Pacific Ocean. It’s called Project America Run. He’s currently in Iowa.
According to a release from the Pontiac (Ill.) Tourism Bureau:
At each mile, Ehredt is placing a small American Flag with each servicemember’s name, rank, hometown, age, and date of death as a memorial and silent symbol of thanks.
“It is my objective to create an invisible holding of hands from one servicemember to the next, flag to flag, ocean to ocean,” said Ehredt. “One Life. One Flag. One Mile.”
Here’s a video from Ehredt’s website:
According to the Pontiac bureau, he will be running through Livingston County, Ill., on Aug. 27, and will cross Route 66 in Dwight, Ill.
If you want to locate one of the flags Ehredt has planted, or sponsor a flag, go here.