Murphy For the 10th consecutive year, Warriors Veteran Outreach on Saturday held a 22-Mile Hump to raise awareness about the high number of veterans’ suicides and meeting local veterans’ needs.
The low-key and locally geared event Saturday took place along an 11-mile out and back stretch of U.S. 19/74 from downtown Murphy to Marble. The slight threat of April showers, with dark clouds and cooler temperatures, soon changed to a clear sky filled with spring sun as the event headed to the finish line.
Starting from the parking lot behind The Mason Bar, the crowd gathered under gray skies to change into their T-shirts, load up with carbohydrates like Moon Pies, raise their potassium levels with fresh bananas, stretch their legs and hydrate with water bottles from the goodie bags provided by the Murphy Pregnancy Center.
Assembling for their 9 a.m. departure, Gary Wilson, former director of Warriors Veteran Outreach, led members of almost every branch of the U.S. military in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. During his opening remarks, Wilson added, “This is not about the organization or recognition for us. This is not a fundraiser.
“This is for awareness of the national average of the 22 veterans who take their lives every day. This is for them.”
Nancy Mills, a veteran of the Air Force, along with Melissa Vankeuren, a Navy veteran, manned the registration table, handing out materials and providing information about Warriors Veteran Outreach along with the route and other essentials to the gathering group of about 75 people ready and eager to tackle the day’s march.
Vankeuren, a board member for almost a year, said, “We may have a smaller crowd this year, but they’re a dedicated bunch. Too, we had more registrations online, so we do expect more people to show up despite the weather.” After their duties at the registration tables, both ladies joined the walk.
Pastor Chris West of Shepherd of the Mountains Church led the group in a prayer as both an offering to God, and a reminder to be grateful for our freedoms defended by members of the U.S. military; for the safety of the walkers along the route; and for peace and mental health healing for all veterans, especially those returning who struggle with what they have seen in both peacetime and combat service.
Flag-bearers leading the procession changed periodically along the miles. Members of Warriors Veteran Outreach and the Cherokee County Veterans Service Office – along with others who had more personal connections to the event – were all attending for various reasons with several first-time walkers interested in helping the local organization raise awareness surrounding this troubling national statistic.
The all-volunteer group comprising Warriors Veteran Outreach helps veterans from every branch of service who reside in Cherokee County, after a complete vetting process, with fulfilling material needs such as building wheelchair ramps to cutting fallen trees off fences during storms or other situations from providing assistance with groceries to providing a full tank of gas if the need is made known.
The group marched inside the entire right lane of U.S. 19/74 East to the first 11-mile stretch, which coincided with a brief break at Marble Springs Baptist Church during the its Missions Trip Fundraiser Yard Sale and barbecue plate lunch, providing tired walkers and “humpers” with a chance to peruse used items and get another quick plate of food in for energizing the return trip of the 11 miles back to Murphy.
Preparing the way for the walkers were resources provided by Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office as a front-end escort – along with Emergency Medical Services with an ambulance ensuring safety – along with a large mobile road sign from the N.C. Department of Transportation that read, “Slow Down Move Over,” to remind drivers to be cautious and respectful of the group.
The group kept a steady pace, but was also cheered along with rallying honks, salutes and waves as the traffic slowed to ask what the event was about. Some people waved flags and gave shouts of encouragement, along with an occasional burst of tractor-trailers regaling the entourage with their blaring horns of support.
Volunteers – including Tom Murphy, Kelley and Ron Resch, all of Murphy – rode ahead of the procession in vehicles stopped along the way stocked with plenty of water, energy drinks and protein snacks to spur along and encourage the walkers as they made their way. The small fleet of vehicles were also strategically positioned to provide relief for walkers who needed bathroom breaks or rides back.
Marc Huyck of the Culberson Volunteer Fire Department, a first-year volunteer, handed out snacks and monitored traffic control closest to the group in a convoy following in the rear position, watching the group’s “six,” or back, in true military fashion.
Huyck said for him the event was personal and struck home, as his father committed suicide when Marc was only age 21. Huyck added that he was glad to help in any way he could – and it wouldn’t be his last time at the annual event.
Reaching the last leg of the route, which included a brief stop and stretch at the Hiwassee Street boat ramp, the dwindled yet determined crowd began the uphill ascent of Valley River Avenue, perhaps the most taxing portion of the trek.
Landing at the point of exodus, everyone posed for several celebratory pictures before enjoying a meal of hot dogs, potato salad, chips, sweet tea and cookies catered by The Mason Bar in longstanding support of their relationship with Warriors Veteran Outreach, whose offices used to be in the basement of the same building.
Even though exhausted, the exhilaration of having completed the walk was felt as the planning momentum for next year’s event could be felt throughout the group as high-fives and group hugs were held in brother-and-sisterhood. Warriors Veteran Outreach welcomes the public and interested volunteers; meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 315 Family Church Road in Peachtree.
Details: Call Warriors Veteran Outreach 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 828-557-6881 or visit warriorsveteranoutreach.com.