Mountain Man Memorial March Weekend

Date/Time
Date(s) - April 11, 2015
8:45 am

Location
The Greystone Lodge on the River

Categories

Mountain Man Memorial March Weekend. Now in its 8th year, the Mountain Man Memorial March is one of the largest events in the United States that celebrates the service and honors the ultimate sacrifice of our nation’s fallen heroes. The March itself will begin at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, April 11; however, a very special event for Gold Star Families will be held on Friday, April 10 at Pi Beta Phi Elementary School in Gatlinburg at 8:00 p.m. Registration for activities are at The Greystone Lodge on the River located at traffic light #5 on the Parkway.

The March on Saturday is for both runners and marchers, military and civilian participants, teams and individuals. Runners compete in a challenging marathon, half-marathon or 10-K race; marchers can compete as individuals or as a team, in military or civilian categories, heavy or light divisions and in distances of 26.2 miles or 13.1 miles. The course takes you through downtown Gatlinburg and then winds its way along Highway 321 and then into the beautiful Smoky Mountains.

For more information visit www.mountainmanmemorialmarch.com.

HISTORY OF THE MOUNTAIN MAN MEMORIAL MARCH

Originally organized in 2008, the march was a personal tribute for University of Tennessee Army ROTC Cadet – 1LT Frank Walkup, a 2005 UT graduate who was killed in action in Iraq. To honor his memory, a group of Cadets from the Rocky Top Battalion marched 26.2 miles with each Cadet carrying a 35-pound rucksack to represent his sacrifice. The following year the cadets challenged ROTC units from across the Southeast to honor several other local fallen service members and their Gold Star Families. ROTC units from Tennessee, Ohio, and North Carolina responded.  Along with more than 20 ROTC units, participants now include active duty military, reserve and guard units, veterans of all services, family & friends of the fallen, JROTC units, and even Cub Scouts packs. Due to the overwhelming success of this unique event, The American Legion has partnered with the University of Tennessee’s Army and Air Force ROTC cadets to help with this most special event.