12:09 pm Gatlinburg prepares for Annual Mountain Man March
Gatlinburg, Tenn., a proud community with a long tradition of honoring those that have fallen in the defense and service of our country, will host the 5th annual Mountain Man Memorial March on April 20-21.
The march was originally created to honor 1st Lieutenant Frank Walkup, a native of Woodbury, Tenn., and a University of Tennessee, ROTC Cadet alumnus. Lieutenant Walkup was killed in Iraq in 2007 in the proud service of his country. The annual event has since evolved into the largest ceremony honoring Gold Star Mothers in the southeastern region.
This remarkable and challenging marathon and march will pass through scenic Gatlinburg and the surrounding trails of the Great Smokey Mountains for 26.2 miles. Also available are a 13.1 mile half-marathon or march as well as a 10k run.
Contestants can register as individuals or teams in one of the following categories:
MILITARY — Registrants must be associated with a military or military type organization. Sub-categories of light and heavy have equipment and uniform requirements.
CIVILIAN — Registrants may be civilian or military. As with the military category, heavy and light sub-categories are included with varying requirements.
For those who don’t participate, there will be plenty of room to watch and cheer on all the competitors as they honor our fallen service members and Gold Star Mothers from across the nation.
This year, the Mountain Man Memorial March announces its affiliation with the American Legion Post #2 located in Knoxville. This partnership has enhanced the scope of the event by bringing in Veterans’ groups from across the southeast and by permitting the organization to accept tax deductible donations from supporters and sponsors.
For information on registration or contributing to the event through sponsorship or charitable donations, visit: http://www.mountainmanmemorialmarch.com
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