Join 91-Year-Old WWII veteran in his run across America
Sunday, June 28, 2015
6:45 AM - 8:00 AM
Location
Reverchon Park
7550 Maple Ave
Dallas, TX 75219
Category(ies)
Ernie will be running with all that show up at Reverchon Park at 7am on Sunday, June 28. He usually runs a slow 5 to 7 miles per day. All are welcome including strollers and dogs. Free of charge. Donations welcome.
http://www.kcentv.com/story/29194026/91-year-old-wwii-veteran-is-running-coast-to-coast-across-america
GATESVILLE — He turns 92 years old in August, but you could never tell. A head full of hair, a flashy smile and a jovial air about him, make WWII veteran Ernest Andrus seem far younger than his true age. But even more incredible, this senior citizen is running, – yes, running – from coast to coast across America.
His journey has been an incredible one, and it is far from over. He started his journey on October 7, 2013 by touching the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, and he doesn’t plan to stop until he touches the Atlantic Ocean in Georgia. “I thought, that would be something to run across the United States. I thought that would be something fun to do,” said Ernie. And he admits, he has been called crazy. “Oh yeah,” he chuckled.
While his pace is slow, he keeps moving mile after mile. Now on week 82, he runs every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, averaging 18.4 miles a week. “Running has always been fun for me. I run 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons. I ran my first 200 mile relay at age 88. It was so much fun I ran three more,” he laughed.
He could tell stories for days. “I got there and nobody showed up, but four wild horses showed up. I would run, and they would run past me and then stop and watch me,” he said about one of his runs.
But this cross country trek is not just an adventure for Ernie. This WWII Navy veteran is on a mission to raise money for the last remaining LST ship, the LST 325 Memorial. During the war 1,051 were built, but this is the only one that remains operation. left and it just so happens to be operational.
“That ship means a little more to me than that,” said Ernie. “Not only did I sail on one identical to this during WWII, but I got married on this ship.” During a WWII reunion with his war buddies aboard the LST 325, he said his vows to his third wife Susan. He was 79, she was 81.
She was by his side when he touched the Pacific to start his cross country journey. He even had an RV customized so she could join him on the adventure, but less than two months into the run Susan had a stroke. “I put my run on hold and went back to be with her. I held her hand for about a week and she quit breathing,” he said.
A framed picture of the happy couple now sits on the dashboard of the RV, and Susan continues her journey with Ernie. “It’s therapy, you know,” he said with tears in his eyes. “Running – that’s my therapy. It always has been.”
He simply runs – sometimes surrounded by supporters, other times completely alone on the road. But he hopes with each step and each mile people will see his story and donate to the ship he loves so much. Right now it’s a moving museum, and can sail to different ports across the United States, but Ernie hopes to raise money to take it to Normandy for a D-Day memorial.
“We wanted to take it back last year on D-Day +70. We didn’t have anywhere near enough money. I thought maybe I could raise enough in five years to take it back. I don’t think I have a chance of raising that much, but I’m trying,” he said. Ernie says it could take millions of dollars to do so, and he’s only raised about $6,000 for the ship.
Regardless, this veteran never gives up. He maps out his routes, puts on his shoes, and heads out for a new day filled with new adventures determined to run across the country he loves so much.
Ernie is always look for company along his routes, and encourages anyone to join him during his routes. He is scheduled to arrive in Gatesville on June 6th and move into Waco near June 18th. He starts his route promptly at 7am each morning.
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