Day 2
Saturday November 20th, 2004
As per usual, the raving redhead was shaking the tents at 0 dark 30 (barely daylight), so that we could get an early start to our miles for the day, and link up with the walk from Atlanta and proceed up to the gates of Ft. Benning together. We had completed the longest part of the miles yesterday so that we wouldn't be exhausted for the day today. Although, sometimes things don't have a way of working out just the way you have planned them! We only had 38 miles to cover today and John provided one extra runner more than we had on friday, so we looked forward to a fairly managable mileage day. The lineup of the two vans was the same as friday so Jon's started and Jim's finished the miles, and we were to meet one block up from the gates for the mass entrance. The miles delegated to Jim's van were in the town of Columbus, Ga. where Ft. Benning is located and were the trickiest part of the miles. The route we entered the city on didn't connect to any direct roads or streets to Ft. Benning Blvd, where we were to meet Denise and Utsumi's group. This difficulty was compounded by the street maps in the atlas not being completely accurate. When we got to the last two sections of miles (Larry - 2nd to last, and Jim - last section), both runners were unable to follow the route the way the map described it and got lost from where they were supposed to be. Larry had passed a turnoff that headed toward Ft. Benning, but was found before he went to far down the wrong road, as it was close to the end of his section. Jim, on the other hand got far enough past the correct turn off on his section that we couldn't find him, so we headed for the gates of Benning to wait for him. Because of this slight miscalculation we were unable to walk up to the gates with that Atlanta group of walkers, and by the time we were able to get ahold of Jim through cell phone calls he had run an extra 7 miles or so out of his way, and on top of the 5 miles he originally pledged. We finally found him coming in to the gates from another direction altogether still about 2 miles away from the gates and about to keel over from exhaustion and lack of food and water. Larry and Meagan took over from there and ran the last 2 miles in to Benning to complete our committment of footprayers. Jim typifies the never give in, never say die attitude that prevails in truly dedicated, all in for the cause road runners , and is and has been an inspiration to us all!!!!!!! His commitment and dedication truly mirrors and reflects that of the prisoners of conscience we run to honor for their sacrifice in crossing the gates of Ft. Benning into the SOA.
Our walk to the gates with our brothers and sisters from Atlanta would have to wait for Sunday morning. We did gather with them then and march, chanting and drumming, to the gates, and Hope was demonstrated once again as many people spontaneously joined us for our walk up the last 1/2 mile to the gates.To our amazement, our group of 30 or so walkers and runners grew into a sizable crowd as onlookers and bystanders added their voices and bodies to our march of conscience up to the gates and stage where we were recognized for our efforts on behalf of the cause. By days end there were to be in excess of 20,000 human souls demonstrating their disatisfaction and disgust over, and Hope and prayer for the closing of the SOA!
TIL THE AM!
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Participants
Clark Filio
Devin Elgert
Jim Toren
John Toren
Jon Blickenstaff
Larry Crane
Mark Porter-Webb
Mary "T"
Meagen Kresge
Day 1
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