The message said three retired veterans had recently returned from a yearlong tour in Iraq. Upon returning home, the men decided to rally support for their comrades overseas by hitting the road. The trio banded together and decided to march.

“They noticed that after 9/11, everyone had flags flying for a while,” said Strong, vice commander of American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax, Va. “But at some point you just saw people stop being patriotic. They’re concerned that people are going to forget the mission we now have overseas and what our soldiers are doing over there.”

Strong said he felt compelled to participate in the march. He took a short vacation from work and drove to the North Carolina-South Carolina border, where Major Dennis McCool, Lt. Col. Marc Breslow and Major Carl Heerup began their journey to Washington, D.C. March 1.

His time with the soldiers, all of whom are now in their golden years, ended Tuesday as they entered Johnston County. But Strong said he felt confident the men would receive as warm a welcome in many places along their route as they had since departing from the South of the Border entertainment complex four days earlier.

“It’s been pretty successful so far,” he said. “We’ve got all kinds of media talking about it. The big thing they want is for people to get out there and wave the flag. And if people want to get out there and walk with them for a few miles, that’s fine too.

“This is not really intended to make a political statement,” Strong added. “If it starts a dialogue, that’s fine, but it’s not meant to create any kind of political controversy.”

McCool, Breslow and Heerup finished their 25-mile journey from Benson to Smithfield about 5 p.m. Tuesday. They arrived at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Brogden Road to the cheers of a small band of flag-waving supporters. The men smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

“We’ve been a total of 102 miles so far,” McCool said. “Every day has been a challenge, but it’s been wonderful.”

For a more-detailed report on the march, read next week’s edition of The Herald.