This Memorial Day weekend, Josh Marreel, a Marine Corps Veteran and native of Hooper, Ne along with friends, family, fellow veterans and active service members, are participating in a relay run, carrying the American Flag across the state of Nebraska. They began their journey May 22nd in Scottsbluff, NE and will end their run on Monday, May 26th in Hooper. “It’s going to hurt, burn whatever you want to call it, but we will not stop until that flag is on Main Street of Hooper,” Marreel stated.
Marreel was in a similar event last year bringing awareness for wounded veterans across the nation. This also took place on Memorial Day weekend, beginning in York, NE and ending in Hooper.
This year, they decided to do something extra special in honor of the late Lieutenant Donald Schwab, who also in a native of Hooper, NE. He is also Nebraska’s latest to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. “Not every day do you have a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient come from your hometown. Mr. Schwab deserves the utmost respect and this is something we can do to help honor him. He is a hero,” Marrreel said.
The group’s scheduled stops along the way include the towns of Lewellen, North Platte, Kearney and Shelby. The team consists of other local’s including: Rachel Wapelhorst, Bailey Fletcher, John Herbolsheimer, Kenny Morrison and Michael Morrison of Scribner. James Berger is also a Hooper native participating in the event. Curtis Thomas of Ohiowa, NE is also a team member. He is a veteran that served with Marreel in Afghanistan.
“We have a strong team that knows exactly why and who we are doing this for,” Marreel said. “Not only for the men and women that have given more than time for their country, but for First Lt. Schwab. Real small town heroes are men like Don. I know he is going to be looking down at us and we are going to put on a show for him.”
If you wish to donate to the cause, please donate to the Miles for Heroes at First National Bank Northeast in Hooper or online at www.milesforheroes.com. Please greet Marreel and the entire team as they arrive in Hooper proudly carrying the flag Monday, May 26th, Memorial Day, between 5:00-6:00 p.m. on Hooper’s Main Street.
Miles for Heroes crossing the state of Nebraska in honor of Lt. Schwab. Photos Courtesy of Tammi Marreel.
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