Vic Wise had an idea.
He gathered a group of friends, and they set off from Richmond at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8 bound for Arlington National Cemetery.
He planned to make it to the cemetery by 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The walk would serve as a “thank you” to members of the U.S. military.
About 11 a.m., Wise and his group were walking on Route 1 north in Stafford County. They were carrying large U.S. flags, and cars driving by honked their horns in approval.
‘This is just our way of saying thank you to those who have served,” said Wise.
His group goes by the name “Freedom Ruck,” and it has raised $9,000 for veterans causes this year. This year marks the third year for the march from Virginia’s capital to the Northern Virginia.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office provided an escort for the walkers as they made their way through the area. Spotsylvania, Prince William, and Fairfax counties also lined up to escort the group their respective jurisdictions.
Wise and 14 others reached their destination late Saturday night. He thanked supporters who came out to greet them along the way in a video posted to Facebook. It was cold, wet, and raining when the group made it to Arlington, according to the video.
Wise did not serve in the military. His father served in the National Guard, and his brother serves in the Army.
