In This Newsletter
Fallen Hero Profile:
Marine Lance Corporal Kyle W. Codner
Shelton, Nebraksa
Marine Lance Corporal Kyle W. Codner was patriotic and loved his country. He was the only son to Wain and Dixie Codner and a brother to Melissa Codner of Shelton, Nebraska. After graduating with honors from high school in 2003, Codner enlisted in the Marines. Like many before him and since, he felt an obligation to serve. On May 26, 2004, Codner died, alongside his squad leader and close friend, Corporal Matthew Charles Henderson, due to hostile action in Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
Wain Codner caught up with Mike while he was in Shelton, Nebraska. He wanted to share his son’s story. A must-read, Mike recounts this story in his blog, an entry called “A Boy Named Kyle” posted on August 2nd.
Here is an excerpt:
I close my eyes and try to imagine his life. I look down the long gravel road that leads to his house, a road he probably learned to ride a bike on, to drive on and drove tractors on. The road now bears the name, Kyle Codner Memorial Road. I run past trains that sit vacant, trains he probably threw rocks at and like any boy probably put pennies on the track to be flattened beyond recognition. I hear locusts singing in the trees and imagine they must have serenaded him to sleep many a summer night. I imagine that days in the fields in this Nebraska humidity built strong character and work ethic.
Wain and Dixie discovered one of Kyle’s journals long after he was gone. An excerpt dated September 11, 2001, reads, “I can’t pull myself away from the t.v., I wish I had the courage of those Port Authority Police and the Firemen.” Serendipitously, on September 11, 2010, Mike will plant flags for Codner and Henderson along the road in Ohio honoring these true American heroes.
With nearly 2,700 flags placed, 10 pairs of running shoes discarded, 24 gallons of chocolate milk consumed and countless memories and stories shared, Mike’s cross-country trek is going extremely well. His body has adapted well to the demands of running roughly 30 miles a day in weather ranging from crisp and cool to torrential rain to humid and sun-drenched. His spirit is inspired by the service members he honors each day and the people he meets along the roadside and by the many welcoming events held in his honor.
It's great to hear that many of you are following Mike’s journey with daily visits to www.projectamericarun.com. For those of you who haven’t checked out the site, we encourage you to spend some time reading Mike’s blog, the news articles and checking out Mike’s photos from the road. We are very excited about our Web site and hope you find it as engaging and functional as we do.
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At the time of this newsletter’s publication, At the time of this newsletter’s publication, Mike is running near the Iowa/Illinois border; Illinois makes the eighth state in roughly a hundred days. The beauty alone of Mike’s quiet tribute moves us to share his project with as many people as we can, yet his experience deepens with each stride as his mission’s purity and his kind soul touches many people—friends and strangers alike. In turn, Mike is moved by the many heartfelt stories he’s heard along the way. As many of you know, he’s sharing these stories on his blog http://wordpress.projectamericarun.com.
Some favorites include:
Wilbert and Nora, posted May 20, 2010
They married in 1944, just days before Wilbert was sent to drive a landing craft on Iwo Jima. For a year and a half, Wilbert wrote Nora every day. With each letter came the assurance that Wilbert was safe and a secret code (hidden under the postage stamp) that told Nora where Wilbert was. He sent her gifts from each port, among her favorite gifts—chewing gum. Read Mike’s blog entry for more details about this couple’s steadfast love and devotion after 66 years of marriage.
A Mother’s Calling, posted June 27, 2010
On a calm stretch of Highway 13 north of Craig, CO, early in the morning on June 27, Mike met Army Corporal Jon-Eric Loney’s mother, Violet Kaylor. She drove almost 1,500 miles from Hartselle, Alabama, to see her son’s flag placed at mile marker 114, a journey Mike refers to as “A Mother’s Calling” in his blog entry. The purity of Violet’s desire to meet Mike and participate in his silent homage to her son and the other service members has been one of Mike’s most touching moments.
Army Corporal Jon-Eric Loney was number 2,881. That is, he was the two thousand, eight hundred and eighty-first U.S. service member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brave 21-year-old Alabama native died November 28, 2006, from injuries sustained when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle during a combat patrol in Hit, Iraq.
Corporal Loney is remembered by many for his infectious smile and love of music. He was proud of his country and felt an obligation to serve. Corporal Loney was a specialist in the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry and drove a Bradley fighting vehicle.
Cali, posted July 10, 2010
At mile marker 178 on Highway 285 in Colorado, an angel appeared and her name was Cali. Standing next to her mountain bike, her mother nearby, Cali waits for Mike to approach. When Mike places his next flag, Cali lays a white rose next to it and thanks the young Marine for his service while Mike salutes. For the next four miles, Mike runs and Cali rides, stopping to repeat their procedure at each mile. As they travel down the road, Mike discovers that she’s 13 years old; has a brother, whom she adores, in the Marines; is witty and smart; and is devoted to veterans causes. He also learns that she has a prosthetic leg. In her young life, she has survived 14 major surgeries and bacterial spinal meningitis. 
Her prosthetic is camouflaged and displays the logos of our Armed Forces and her brother’s initials. Within the camouflage, there is a guardian angel that represents those we have lost their lives but are still watching over us and a butterfly that represents the casualties. Cali is a ray of light, a ray of hope; but most of all, an inspiration to everyone—young and old.
On a gorgeous day in late July, Mike enjoyed a rest day in Paxton, Nebraska—local style. His day started off with an aerial tour of the county, courtesy of “Pilot Fred,” a retired farmer and veteran. Fred gave a history lesson of the area while he navigated the airways. Mike then took part in a prairie dog shoot followed by a stint as a combine driver. Mike’s description of the combine’s size and power compared to his jog stroller is a hoot. With the day still young, Mike was ushered to the river for what is called “tanking.” An 11-foot-long horse tank was loaded with lawn chairs and coolers and pushed into the river for a Paxton-style, one-of-a-kind riverboat cruise. To cap the day off, Mike’s host took him to Ole’s, a local favorite for food and drink. What a memorable rest day indeed!
"Mr. Ehredt is teaching us all something about patriotism!"
"My heart and prayers go out to you. May God bless and keep you on your epic journey"
"I love what you are doing to honor all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to secure the freedom of the greatest country in the world."
"I don't think Mike knows how deeply his journey is affecting people! He is TRULY AMAZING!!""Mike you make me so proud to be an American. At each mile marker I will look for the flag and yellow ribbon with the name of one of our brave man or woman who gave their lives for our freedom and say a prayer for them."
"Few seem to honor Veteran's today like they used to. God bless you for all you are doing."
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Thanks to our Hosts and Sponsors
Project America Run has the support of many sponsors, all of whom have provided Mike with goods, gear or services to help him complete his cross-country run. We want to thank our sponsors for their generosity. Please check out the Sponsors page on our Web site and support these fine companies.
Our Supporting Sponsor, Honoring Our Veterans, has been invaluable in providing administrative and financial support to Project America Run. We are truly grateful for the support and assistance. Honoring Our Veterans is located in Jackson, Wyoming, and provides recreational and social rehabilitation for wounded veterans. For more information about the organization, visit http://honorvets.org.
We also want to extend our gratitude to Teton Data Systems for their ongoing efforts in updating and enhancing our Web site. The changes Teton Data Systems suggested and implemented have provided us with more online features than we ever thought possible. We love our dynamic Web site!
Special thanks goes out to Mike’s hosts, not only for offering warm meals and comfortable sleeping accommodations but for enhancing Mike’s journey with your support and friendship. We appreciate your care and kindness.
Share your enthusiasm for Mike and Project America Run with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. The more awareness we can generate for remembering our fallen heroes, the better. You can track Mike’s progress via the Web site - www.projectamericarun.com. If Mike is headed to your area, please inform your local news media. Many television news stations and newspapers offer a news tip line. We encourage you to submit a news tip about Project America Run. We also are happy to send a press release to any media outlet you provide; just email us at info@projectamericarun.com. We want to stay ahead of Mike, so spread the word!
If you want to see Mike finish his epic run across America in Rockland, Maine, book a room early! The Project America Run contingent will be staying at the Trade Winds Motor Inn (1-800-834-3130). The fall foliage will be beautiful and draws countless visitors every year. Mike wants lobster! Let us know by email or phone if you’re interested in joining us for a lobster bake in Maine on October 15th--info@projectamericarun.com or 208-399-2004.
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