Freedom Walk symbolizes different things to varied participants

Local residents set to participate in Saturdays Freedom Walk have different reasons to participate.

Downtown Muskogee Inc. Director Jonita Mullins, who began the event in 2009, said its a solemn occasion for her, meant to honor those whose lives were lost especially Ron Milam, the Muskogee graduate who died at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

Muskogees Fourth annual 9/11 Freedom Walk will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, beginning at the Muskogee Civic Center Plaza, and following the Centennial Trail to 21st Street and back.

Its not meant to be a fundraiser or a competition anything other than spending a little time in quiet reflection, Mullins said. The trail is perfect for that, so quiet and beautifully isolated, youll hardly know youre walking through town.

The event is to remember civilians and veterans who lost their lives on 9/11. Those planning the event hope veterans, non-veterans and their families will participate in the walk.

The walk began in 2009 when the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical center sent Mullins information on Freedom Walks being held across the country.

It started at the Pentagon to commemorate the people that were lost there, Mullins said. And as a city that has a strong veteran presence, I thought it would be a win-win for everyone.

Kelvin Brown, a veteran, also is helping plan the event. For him, its about drawing attention to the communitys veterans and their needs.

Im big on the fact that we just need to bring more attention to how veterans live from day to day, he said. When you go and serve and are put into financial hardships, then come home and lose stuff, its terrible. So anything that helps bring attention to veterans thats big for me.

Brown said last years Freedom Walk was his first helping with the planning.

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Freedom Walk symbolizes different things to varied participants