Newspaper Article About Me Reaching 5,000 Miles For The Troops

Pedestrian patriot tops 5,000 miles
By Bob Niedbala, Staff writer, niedbala@observer-reporter.com

This article has been read 357 times.

In the last 3 1/2 years, Terry Ronzio II of Holbrook has walked more than 5,000 miles to show his support for the troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ronzio, 46, can often be seen - he's actually pretty hard to miss - as he walks along the highway carrying a large American flag.

Each 500 miles, Ronzio changes flags and presents the previous flag to a different military unit. This past weekend, Ronzio presented his 10th flag to Cumberland American Legion Post 400 in honor of all veterans.

"The veterans are the greatest patriots," Ronzio said Tuesday. "Ninety-eight percent of the time, when someone stops to talk to me along the road, it's a veteran," he said.

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Since August 2006, Ronzio has walked area highways to demonstrate his love of country and his support for the men and women now fighting on its behalf.

He had begun walking after becoming frustrated with the negative news that was being reported then about the war in Iraq. He said he also remembered hearing about how soldiers were treated who had served in Vietnam.

"I just never wanted the same thing to happen to these guys," he said, referring to those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ronzio, at the time, was too old to enlist himself, so he came up with another idea to support the men and women serving in the military. He would walk to show his patriotism, and he hoped to get others to show their pride in the men and women serving in the war.

"I just want to show that we're behind these guys," Ronzio said. "I want to remind people that these men and women are still over there, fighting for our freedom."

Ronzio walks three or four times a week and averages 10 miles a day. He is currently walking in Morgantown W.Va., Connellsville and along Bristoria Road and Route 21 near his home in Greene County.

Earlier this year, he lost his job, so he also is now looking for work. He'll need the income, if nothing else than for buying new boots.

"I'm getting my 22nd pair of boots," he said Tuesday. That's how many pairs he's worn out since he started his project.

Though he's put in a lot of time and walked many miles, Ronzio said, it's something that still has not lost it's appeal to him.

"It's been great," Ronzio said. People often stop to talk to him along the road, they honk their horns or offer rides, food or water.

"There's been a lot of positive feedback," he said, "especially from the little kids and the soldiers."

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3 comments

Thanks! : 12/23/2009
Seeing Mr. Ronzio walking with his flag always lifts my spirits! Thank you, Terry!
a mom

: 12/23/2009
This is very touching. Thank you Mr. Ronzio for caring and for your patriotism

Good Luck : 12/23/2009
Lets help him find a decent and rewarding job. I am glad to see someone trying to make a difference and create awareness.
Bubba Gump