Cal U community members — including teams from the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Admissions Office — took time May 3 to run nearly a mile in a preamble to a cross-country relay
The 0.93-mile campus run raised awareness of the Old Glory Relay. Held every Sept. 11, it’s a 4,600-mile journey across America to honor and connect veterans while celebrating all that unites the country as a nation.
The relay, in its sixth year, is coordinated by Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB). This year, more than 10,000 people are expected to help carry a single American flag from coast to coast. For just the second time, the journey will include the Pittsburgh area.
Jim Yauger, Team RWB’s mid-Atlantic program manager, coordinated the Cal U event along with the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The distance for the 0.93-mile campus run honored members of the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Somerset County on Sept. 11, 2001.
Runners started on Third Street near Residence Hall E, looped around the Convocation Center, and followed Riverview and University drives to the finish line near the Convocation Center.
“During these ‘preambles’ we send the flag to major metropolitan areas that are on the relay course later this year,” Yauger explained. “By doing this we hope to generate some interest, build it up, and get some people talking about it.
“We wanted Cal U to have the opportunity to take part in it. Hopefully, some will come and take part in the relay.”
Among the runners looking forward to the Old Glory Relay is graduating senior Richard Myers, an ROTC cadet who will be commissioned (along with fellow cadet Sean Cushman) as a second lieutenant on May 11.
“Today is my last day of classes, so this is sort of a celebration and a way to get the juices flowing,” Myers said. “This is a tremendous tribute.”
Dr. Tracey Sheetz, dean of undergraduate admissions, worked with Yauger in a previous position. She brought a team from her office to the preamble run.
“I really believe in what Jim is doing with Team RWB, and this also is a way to integrate us with our strong Veterans and Military Affairs Office on campus,” she said.
“This is not about admissions but a way to get our people out on a nice day and promote healthy employee lifestyles.”
For more information about upcoming Cal U military events, email Robert Prah, Cal U’s Director of Military and Veterans Affairs, at prah@calu.edu. For more information on the Old Glory Relay or the RWB Pittsburgh Chapter, contact Jim Yauger at jim.yauger@teamrwb.org.