Mike Ehredt will kick off a 2,100-mile run across the country to pay tribute to veterans who served and died in Afghanistan on Aug. 23 in International Falls.
The 51-year-old U.S. Army veteran will travel from Borderland down to Texas as part of a program, Project America Run, in 2010. The idea behind Ehredt’s efforts highlight one life, one flag, one mile. For every mile he runs, Ehredt stops and plants an American flag, tied with a yellow ribbon carrying the name, rank, age and hometown of fallen soldiers. According to a release, Ehredt salutes before taking off on the next mile.
In 2010, a release said Ehredt ran more than 4,400 miles on his route from Oregon to Maine in honor of those lost in Iraq.
This summer, Ehredt is launching Project America Run II, and will begin in International Falls. He plans to run a marathon per day for 11 weeks straight. On Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, he’ll finish his 2,100-mile odyssey outside of Galveston, Texas.
“I do this as a personal tribute and gift of thanks to those who have served our country,” Ehredt said in a statement. “Project America Run has no political agenda, no statement to be made, I simply want to create an invisible wall of honor and grace as my humble show of gratitude.”
Ehredt is traveling alone and will push a stroller filled with flags. The runner’s route will take him through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
A send-off reception for Ehredt is being planned for 8 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial next to the Koochiching County Courthouse. Shawn Mason, director of economic and community development for International Falls, said the city is “honored that Mike Ehredt selected International Falls as his launch location for Project America Run.”
Mason said a brief program is planned for Ehredt’s send off and will include guest speakers Tim “Chopper” McBride, Falls mayor; Brian McBride, Koochiching County Board chairman; and Wade Pavleck, Vietnam veteran and county commissioner.
The program will begin at 8:15 a.m. with music from the Rainy Lake Community Orchestra, and a presentation of the flags by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2948 color guard.
Mason encouraged people to visit Ehredt’s website at http://projectamericarun.com to view the video of his 2010 journey.
“If you’re a patriotic American, you will need a box of Kleenex by your side,” she said. “This 51-year-old veteran is doing what we all wish we were able to do and that is honor those who have sacrificed.”
