Senior Airman Chris Jones runs by a group of supporters July 26, 2011, in Vidalia, La. during their leg of the “Ruck March to Remember.” Support during the trip came from the community, local businesses and many police stations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick)

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Members of the 14th Security Forces Squadron from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., march across the Vidalia-Natchez Bridge heading east over the Mississippi River July 26, 2011, as part of the “Ruck March To Remember.” Security Forces Airmen from 23 squadrons began the 2, 181-mile march July 12 at the Security Forces Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and will finish their journey Sept. 11 at Ground Zero in New York City to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick)

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Four members of the 14th Security Forces Squadron from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., carry the “Ruck March to Remember” guidon over the Mississippi state line July 26, 2011. Team one marched 87 miles of the 146 mile leg assigned to the 14th SFS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick)

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Members of the 14th Security Forces Squadron from Columbus Air Force, Miss., double-time across the Vidalia-Natchez Bridge over the Mississippi River July 26, 2011, as part of the “Ruck March To Remember.” The security forces members were escorted across the bridge by Vidalia police department officers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick)

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Security forces Airmen continue "Ruck March to Remember"

Published July 28, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick
14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFNS) -- Security forces Airmen from the 14th Security Forces Squadron here completed 87 miles of their 146 mile "Ruck March to Remember" journey at Natchez, Miss., July 26.

Security Forces Airmen from 23 squadrons began the 2, 181-mile march July 12 at the Security Forces Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and will finish their journey Sept. 11 at Ground Zero in New York City to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of 9/11.

Letting team one head home to rest their feet, team two arrived at camp to finish out the leg assigned to the Columbus AFB Airmen.

"It's great that they covered a lot more miles than we expected; (it) really helps out the team," said Senior Airman Matthew Smith, a 14th SFS member. "I hope we keep up the focus they had."

Team one traveled the extra miles to get across the Mississippi River on the Vidalia-Natchez Bridge. The Vidalia police department provided four police cars to escort the team over the bridge, blocking off one lane to ensure the safety of the marchers.

"It was an honor, especially with the police escorts," said Senior Airman Chris Jones, a 14th SFS member. "Knowing that was the last portion of team one's journey, it was awesome to enter Mississippi as we did."

Pushing through rolling hills, team two completed 27 miles in five hours and thirty minutes using the same style of rotations as team one.

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