Trail of Remembrance kicks off Memorial Day observances

MEADOW LAKES — With less than two weeks until Memorial Day, the honorary day of remembrance for America’s service veterans, some in the Mat-Su Valley community decided to jump start local events.

About 60 walkers, runners and bikers took to the bike path along the Parks Highway near Big Lake Saturday to participate in the fifth annual Trail of Remembrance fundraiser to support area veterans and MidValley High School.

At 9:45 a.m., the mountain bikers were the first down the 3-mile trail, followed by runners. The majority of participants took their time, reminded it was not a race, mingling with each other and waving to people on the road.

Each participant received a sign of a sponsored veteran, which was placed along the trail leading to the finish line at MidValley High School in Meadow Lakes. T-shirts were also given out, as well as medals for the top three finishers in each category, presented at the end of the day at the wrap-up barbecue outside MidValley High.

Last year $3,000 was raised for the Trail of Remembrance with proceeds split between Amvets Post 9, American Legion Auxiliary Post 35, VFW Post 9365 and MidValley High School.

Becky Huggins, principal at MidValley, initiated Trail of Remembrance with hopes it would raise more awareness of the Valley’s growing veteran community.

“It was our way to celebrate the Valley vets and military personnel,” Huggins said. “It was also a way for us all to come together as a school and work towards a better community.”

MidValley and area children took time out earlier in the week to sweep and clean the trail, Huggins said.

“My husband and I are both veterans,” she said. “We have a son who’s a second lieutenant, two kids getting into West Point next year and a whole family of service members. There are many wonderful people in the Valley who are vets or have vet family members, so it’s huge.”

Huggins said honoring vets with the Trail of Remembrance is one small way the community can say “thank you” before Memorial Day.

“These are guys who put their lives on the line, so it’s the least we can do,” she said.

Roy Burkhart, a Korean War veteran, said he was surprised to see so many young people coming out to support veterans.

Burkhart said he and his wife, June, have supported Trail of Remembrance over the years, but decided this year to participate in their wheelchairs, decorated with American flags and patriotic flair.

“More significant than honoring the veterans is the fact that it’s being put on by a high school,” Burkhart said. “To me, that’s fantastic, watching these young people get involved.”

Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife@frontiersman.com, or 352-2269.