A group of veterans on a patriotic nationwide tour stopped by the Florida governors mansion in Tallahassee Tuesday, allowing Gov. Rick Scott to see the flag-painted jeep and sign a red, white and blue banner as a way of honoring U.S. troops.
It was the latest stop in the Crossing of America tour, a journey that began on the deck of the USS Midway in San Diego Harbor on Memorial Day weekend and will end on Sept. 8 on the deck of the USS Intrepid in New York Harbor, traveling through 43 states along the way. The groups website says the closing ceremony of the tour will mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The Crossing of America group is also trying to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project and the Spirit of Liberty Foundation charities, which aid veterans injured on duty.
Organizers of the tour say it began as a way of pushing thanks and gratitude for veterans throughout the year, instead of just on national holidays.
Thats why were doing this tour, because we want people to appreciate our men and women serving in the armed forces, not just on Memorial Day and Veterans Day and the Fourth of July, but 365 days a year, because thats how often these men and women are sacrificing their dreams so that we can live ours. So thats the theme of this tour to bring this back to the forefront of everyones attention, said tour organizer Ryan Emery.
After speaking with group organizers, Scott hopped in the drivers seat for a quick photo-op. He didnt take the opportunity to escape reporters, but did start the engine.
The NASCAR one was a lot louder, he joked.
Sitting shotgun was Meredith McMackin, a Gold Star mother whose son was killed in Iraq in 2007. She described the incident:
My son, Marine Corporal Julian Woodall, was on his second deployment in Iraq and was killed on May 22, 2007, outside of Fallujah, along with another 21-year-old. It was a mounted night patrol and they were the lead vehicle and they hit an (improvised explosive device), she said.
Scott was also afforded the opportunity to write a message to the troops. He said it was the sacrifice of veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that enabled the freedoms of citizens at home.
Organizations like this are great because it's highlighting what we all live for. We live for the freedom of our country and were very appreciative that people are willing to sacrifice for the freedom of this country, and if it wasnt for the fact that some individuals are willing to sacrifice for freedom, we wouldnt have all the liberties we have today, Scott said.
The tour continues Wednesday, hitting Fort Myers and Orlando later in the week before exiting the Sunshine State for a stop in Savannah, Ga.
Donations can be made by visiting the groups website here.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
