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Web posted Friday, November 2, 2001
8:42 a.m. CT


photo: news

  Flag Bearer: Glenn Carlson, an American Airlines pilot, leaves Groom on Wednesday with the towering cross in the background.
Henry Bargas / hbargas@amarillonet.com

Oh say, did you see? The Flag Across America
Old Glory unfurls across Panhandle as runners make their way west


From staff reports

Runners proudly held an American flag aloft as they arrived in Amarillo on Wednesday night.

The Americans United Flag Across America run is taking a flag, which flew over Iraq in a fighter plane patrolling the no-fly zone, across the approximate route American and United airlines flights would have taken had they not been hijacked Sept. 11.

"It brings a sense of pride in our country. I'm thankful to get to be a part of this," Mayor Trent Sisemore said, after carrying the flag to its first stop, city hall. "I feel this exemplifies the spirit of cooperation and unity in our country, especially at a time like this."

A group of Marines carried the flag into town.

Major Tim Frantz said the Marines weren't going to let Old Glory pass through their town without America's finest putting their hands on it.

For more on the Flag Across

America route, log on to http://www.flagrun2001.org/

On The Net:

http://www.raisinghope.net/

Jerri Horton, a retired Marine, carried the flag to city hall.

"It was no physical effort whatsoever. It was pure adrenalin like I knew it would be," he said.

Horton said carrying the flag was just a small thing he could do.

"If enough people do enough small things, it adds up to something big," the Pantex guard said.

Next, cross-country runners from Tascosa High School took the flag to the Amarillo Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

photo: news

  Volunteer Veteran: Vietnam veteran Herb Heald of Amarillo, who served in the Marines, was a volunteer runner who stopped at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center on Wednesday.
Michael Lemmons / mlemmons@amarillonet.com

"I feel like it's really an honor to get to run and represent all America in remembering the victims of Sept. 11," Bekah Lovett said. "It strengthens my sense of patriotism."

Her fellow runners agreed.

"I'm honored to run for people that helped . . . in a crisis," said Jamie Blasingame, adding she was also celebrating the lives of those who died.

At the VA, former soldiers looked with pride upon the flag.

"We have to support it wherever it goes," said Garlen Eslick, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Eslick said America must never forget what happened in New York and the Pentagon and all the lives that were lost.

photo: news

  Spectators: Irma Heras, left, and Eloy Heras were among the crowd Wednesday at John Stiff Memorial Park before the volunteer runners continued on to Canyon.
Michael Lemmons / mlemmons@amarillonet.com

Adam Hoffman, a Navy veteran of Korea, said he came to cheer the runners on, something that filled him with pride in his country.

Then the flag moved on to John Stiff Memorial Park, the Amarillo base camp.

Runners stopped at the base camp for a brief proclamation by Sisemore and the city commission, and a few patriotic songs.

Runners said the experience was gratifying.

"It was exhilarating. I think it was very healing," said Jenny Rapp, an American Airlines flight attendant. Rapp said running was a way to remember fallen comrades who died in the plane crashes.

A group of 18 runners came from San Antonio to participate.

"It's so incredible you can't even explain it. It's the biggest feeling of pride and unity," said Gail Gavrysh, one of the runners.

Sally Rios said people showed a real sense of love and respect for the flag.

Other travelers included Bill Lathrop and Ram Flores, who flew in from Corpus Christi. The pair was in town only a few hours.

"This is a great cause and we wanted to carry the flag in our state," Lathrop said.

Flores said he just wanted to help keep the flag moving.

Brent Murphy ran the flag from Amarillo to Umbarger.

"When I first heard about it, I felt a personal obligation to do this for the victims as well as for myself," he said.

Shortly before leaving Amarillo, officials complimented area efforts in the run.

"The run went extremely well," said Phil Conroy, a Texas organizer. "Everyone has been just superb."

The flag left John Stiff Memorial Park at midnight and continued to Los Angeles, with an expected arrival on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.


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