One of a Kind 9/11 Tribute Comes to Treasure Valley; Seeks Community Volunteers

Over the past year, my running club, Team Run Boise, has had the incredible honor of getting to know some amazing human beings from Team, Red White and Blue, Mission 43 and Hire Heroes USA. They're putting together a 40 mile tribute to the men and women who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001 and need your help to make it happen! 

I remember the morning of September 11th, 2001 so vividly that it is hard for me to fathom that this year's high school seniors were just one or two years old when the tragedy occurred.  I watched the events of that day unfold on TV during my history, orchestra and science classes.  These students learned about it as a short chapter in their history books.

16 years later, Team RWB, Mission 43 and Hire Heroes USA (along with some other friends) are making sure that no one forgets those who lost their life with a special moving tribute. Many of those involved in this tribute are military vets. On Monday, September 11th they'll host a 40-mile trek through the Treasure Valley, continuously moving the "Flag of Honor" which has every first responder and citizen killed in the attack's name on it.

The moving tribute begins at Lucky Peak at 8:46 a.m. (the exact time the first plane hit the World Trade Center) and the goal is to keep that flag in constant motion until the relay reaches the Caldwell Veterans Memorial Hall. The only time the flag will stop is for momentary moments of silence at the time when the second plane crashed into the South Tower, the third crashed into the Pentagon and the fourth went down in Shanksville, PA.

So where do you come in? The leg captains are looking for members of the community to join them along the way and carry the flag in 10 minute increments. (You're allowed to run/walk with them longer if you'd like!) You can join at any point along the way.  (I'm planning on joining my friend and Team RWB leg captain, Chad Rohr for a bit during the their leg that starts from Kristen Armstrong Municipal Park and goes right past our office.) You can see the map of the route and grab the contact information for each leg captain HERE.

Not able to run/walk during the tribute? Join these heroes at the finale at Caldwell Veterans Memorial Hall starting at 4:30 p.m. for burgers, drinks and great company.

About the Groups Participating

Mission43: The 43 project brings together the stories of versants and their spouses transitioning into civilian life, as well as community members and employers impacted by the academic, career and community support of the group and its partners.

Team Red, White and Blue: Team RWB is an organization on a mission to enrich the lives of veterans by connecting them to people in the community through physical and social activity.

Hire Heroes USA: Hire Heroes USA empowers U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce.

Team Rubicon: Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. The Idaho team were some of the first to help clean un sandbags and flood debris after the Boise River flooded this spring.

Guild Education: Guild is Mission43's education partner and helps participants navigate their way through school through a partnership with five schools.