Friday, March 07, 2008

Army Officers return home with new support mission

Three retired Army officers who returned to active duty in order to serve a year in Iraq have returned home with a new mission.

Majors Dennis McCool and Carl Heerup and Lt. Col. Mark Breslow are walking from South Carolina to Washington, D.C. to show support for the troops and to open a dialogue about the national will to win in Iraq.

“The reason for this march is to show support for the troops and the mission of the troops,“ stressed McCool on the march’s Web site, resolvetowin.us. “The purpose is to demonstrate resolve to win and complete a difficult task and to create a dialog about the importance of winning in
Iraq.“

McCool, 60, of Sanford, Fla., was stationed at Fort Belvoir twice during his military career. His son, Gerry, who is also participating in the walk, was born on Fort Belvoir in 1971 and is a graduate of Woodbridge Senior High School.

“It’s encouraging to know that people support our troops,“ said the younger McCool, a major with the U.S. Transportation Command who has served in the Army for 17 years. “It makes the miles pass more quickly. People feel a sense of pride and support for them.“

Gerry McCool spoke via telephone Tuesday from Fayetteville, N.C. He said the group has been averaging about 25 miles per day since the walk began Saturday. The walk is expected to take 15 days to complete.

“It’s really just about awareness and support of our troops,“ he said.

The 400-mile trek began on the South Carolina/North Carolina border at Route 301 and will follow Route 301 through North Carolina before moving into Virginia Tuesday. It will follow Route 1 from Richmond until it branches off in Woodbridge on March 15 at Route 123 to Fairfax.

American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax will hold a reception for the marchers when they arrive next Saturday and will be the staging area and kickoff point for the final march to the Lincoln Memorial March 16. Participants are urged to walk along with the marchers when they reach the area and motorcycles are welcome to assist with crossing intersections or to ride ahead to attract attention.

More information on the march and daily updates on the participants’ progress can be found at resolvetowin.us.