Families to 'walk to Iraq'

Hundreds of military families and well-wishers will be wearing out their sneakers in the next 15 months in a program designed to show miles of gratitude to Fort Carson soldiers in Iraq.

The “Walk to Iraq and Back” will feature volunteers logging more than 14,160 miles, the distance soldiers in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team will fly to Baghdad and back, returning in early 2009.

More than 40 walkers put in the first miles late last week in a kickoff event.

Brig. Gen. James M. Milano, assistant commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said he plans to keep soldiers from Fort Carson filled in on how many miles are being walked on their behalf and use the walk as a morale booster for troops living through a 15-month deployment.

“We know our families will be thinking of us while we’re away,” said Milano. “This is a way of showing that to soldiers.”

The first 3rd Brigade troops to head back to Iraq leave this week. A formal farewell ceremony for the unit is planned for Tuesday, and the 3,800-soldier unit will be gone by early December.

Kim Milano, the general’s wife, is coordinating the walk at Fort Carson. She said it will support families at home as well as the troops overseas by encouraging spouses to walk together and commiserate about their experiences.

“What we’re really hoping is it will get people walking together,” she said.

Other plans include getting local civic groups, businesses and schools to pound the pavement to rack up thousands of extra miles for soldiers.

Gabby Gregory, whose husband is deploying with the brigade, said adding up the miles will help show the couple’s two children how much closer they are to a family reunion in 2009.

“Something like this gives us a goal to work toward,” she said.

The effort will also include miles logged by participants at Fort Hood, Texas, where hundreds of walkers are making strides for soldiers that post is sending to Baghdad soon.

The walking effort also involves spouses and soldiers from units on post that aren’t scheduled to deploy soon.

“We’re like a military family,” said Linda Hannah as she walked last week.

Hannah, whose husband is a soldier in the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team and could deploy in 2008, said all the walking will help her stay in shape and show support.

“We’ll support them now, and they’ll support us later,” she said.

People interested in adding their legs to the effort can e-mail Kim Milano at kim.o.milano@us.army.mil.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0240 or tom.roeder@gazette.com