Nine years after the devastating terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, a national organization hosted a Freedom Walk in Athens to honor those who lost their lives that day.
Nine people attended the mile-long walk at the Athens Community Center on Saturday in remembrance, and to raise money for people currently serving in the military.
In its first year, the Freedom Walk in Athens was not deterred by lean attendance, said Jackie Jenkins, an American Family Insurance Agent whose company sponsored the event. She added that they are planning to continue the walk in future years.
The Freedom Walk was created by Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that raises money for families with a deployed relative, and took place in 22 cities around the country this year, according to a news release.
Alyssa Ashcroft, a resident of Athens County, came to the walk on Saturday to show her support for the victims of Sept. 11 and other service members.
I have one brother in the active army
one brother in Army ROTC at Ohio University and one more brother who is a firefighter Ashcroft said.
Ashcroft's mother, Carol Day, participated in the walk as well.
My son is in the army. (He has been to) Iraq three times
fourth time in November
Day said. I also want to show support for all the military.
Along with Athens, both Cleveland and Columbus hosted a walk, said Maryanne Queen, Operation Homefront's Southeast Ohio area coordinator.
This is the first Freedom Walk through Athens, Queen said. The walk is in its fifth year, with 15,000 participating in the inaugural event in Washington, D.C., she added.
Operation Homefront was developed in February 2002 by a group of wives in San Antonio whose husbands were deployed after the Sept. 11 attacks, Queen said.
Some services that Operation Homefront provides families include mowing grass and other maintenance jobs, Jenkins said.
1
News
Emily Bowman
32185a.jpg
Maryanne Queen gives a speech Saturday morning before starting the Freedom Walk. Nine people attended the walk in remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001. Gwen Titley | FOR THE POST
