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Local News
Veterans take to road By Gina Childress | Daily Times Staff Writer Three men from Arizona, California and Florida who are walking 400 miles from Dillon, S.C., to Washington, D.C., were met by military veterans, people waving American flags and a lot of pride Wednesday. The trio made their way along U.S. 301 from Johnston County and into Wilson County. Dennis McCool, Carl Heerup and Marc Breslow, all of whom served in the current Iraq War and are retired from the military, decided something was needed to renew the support for the men and women currently serving in the War on Terror. They are calling their march to the nation's capital, "Resolve to Win." The march was the brainchild of McCool, a 60-year-old retired Army veteran. He recruited two of his fellow servicemen, Heerup and Breslow, to join him. All three were retired servicemen when the War on Terror began and felt it was their duty to volunteer their services in Iraq. That's how they met. McCool said when he asked his buddies to join him on his march, neither hesitated to join him. "I agreed with the goals and said I would do this with him," said Heerup. "It wasn't President Bush, or the Congress, or Secretary Rumsfeld who invaded Iraq, it was the government of the United States of America, my government. I am responsible, and will do whatever I can to fulfill that responsibility." The message these men want people to understand is simple. People don't have to like the war, they don't have to support the reasons for the war. But, they believe, no matter what, each American should show these Iraq and Afghanistan veterans their pride, gratitude and support. Breslow, a 27-year veteran of the Army, feels strongly that supporting the troops is not about the politics but about supporting the men and women who volunteered to protect their country. "We need to see this war effort through to the end," he said. "We don't need to let ourselves settle for anything less than complete victory. If we pull out now, we will lose everything we have achieved so far and will bring the War on Terror home to our shores." Grimesland resident Larry Hoffa decided to join these patriots Wednesday on their 25-mile walk into Wilson. Hoffa felt the need to join these men even though he has plates and screws in his neck and back. His plates and screws were a result of many years of parachuting with the Marine Corps. "It is an honor to be with these guys and walk with them," said Hoffa. "My wife thought I should only walk about half way with them today. But, I told her no, that I can do 25 miles if they can walk 400." Rudy Finch, a Marine and Vietnam war veteran, proudly waved the American flag as the march entered Wilson County. "I came out here to show my support for these guys and for our military," he said. Finch said he agrees strongly with the reasons for the march and with the message the "Resolve to Win" is getting out to people. "You don't have to agree with the war," he said. "But just because you don't believe in it doesn't mean you shouldn't support the men and women over there fighting for us." "If you don't want to support our troops, then you don't need to be in the country," Finch said. Even though McCool, Heerup and Breslow are walking by themselves at the moment, when they reach Washington, D.C., they hope to have an estimated 10,000 people join them. "We hope to present our "Resolve to Win" flag to President Bush or General (David) Petraeus (commanding general in Iraq) and show our resolve in supporting our troops," said McCool. To learn more about the march and follow their progress you can go to their Web site, vfwwebcom.org/resolvetowin gina@wilsontimes.com | 265-7821
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