Freedom Walk Remembers 9/11 Victims - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Freedom Walk Remembers 9/11 Victims

By Natalie Zarowny
nzarowny@cbs4qc.com

For the past four years the Milan American Legion has honored victims of 9/11 in a very unique way.

"That was an honor to do something like this," said James Lamay, Senior Vice President of the Milan American Legion and walker.

And that honor spread across a mile stretch along the Hennepin Canal.

The Freedom Walk is the brainchild of Norman Dunlap, it was his idea to create a 3,000 step walk, one step for each person killed during the terrorist attacks.

"It's important to have an event like this so people do not forget the sacrifices that these nearly 3,000 people made when they were inadvertently killed by terrorists," said Dunlap.

For some folks, looking back on 9/11 is a reminder that history tends to repeat itself.

"9/11 was a major even that happened and changed our country forever, similar to Pearl Harbor, it threw us into the forefront," said Jack Smith, a walker in the event.

But most walkers said it's a way to raise awareness for about a national tragedy that's impacted so many lives.

"It was sobering to go on the walk, it just kind of focused on the fact of how many people actually died during that attack.  You talk about thousands, but until you take a step for each person then it really doesn't come home," said Smith.

Before the walk started, a flag with the names of every victim was displayed during a moment of reflection.

This year's event brought out about 40 walkers, next year the legion hopes to get even more folks to join.