Press Release - Veteran's Marathon - 10/16/12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

              4th Annual Veteran's Marathon Brings Fly Over and 
                  More Excitement to the Holiday Events!

COLUMBIA CITY (October 16, 2012) – In adding to the honoring of the US Air 
Force 4 to 5 Vintage Military Aircraft will take part of the start of the 
Marathon events. The aircraft will meet at the Huntington airport Friday in 
preparation for the annual event. The group is part of club that has them 
flying from; Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Huntington.

The festivities begin 7:30 AM with honor guards of the US Air Force, US 
Marines, leading several honor guards in the opening ceremonies. Marching 
bands will also be playing patriotic music during the opening festivities. 
The actual Marathon and Half Marathon begin at 8:00 AM with the sounds of 
battle; The alarms of the Court House bells, historic cannon blast, musket 
fire, with the roar of the aircraft above. All signal the runners to start 
their Boston qualifying runs. At 8:15 AM the 5KM run will start with again
the noise of battle, less the court house bells.

The aircraft will spend about hour flying over head and along the course 
route, before departing for a brief time to return at approximately 10:30 
AM for final honor of the Veterans. Coming at first from the west escorting 
the marathon winner to the downtown, the aircraft will configure the 
"missing man, fly over". The protocol will have the aircraft fly directly 
from North to South, with the wing aircraft in the formation monavearing 
out of the formation. At that point the playing of TAPS will be played on 
the ground for those in honor of Veterans.

The Veterans Marathon awards are made right here in Indiana, starting with 
Indiana Limestone. This year in honoring our US Air Force we have chosen 
the A10 Warthog Fighter Jet a special honor of the Indiana Air Guard of 
Fort Wayne Indiana which will be the finishing medals and center piece the 
limestone winner's awards.

The event is always looking to draw more spectators, volunteers, and 
business participation to honor our veterans. Several aide stations along 
the course have embraced the race, by providing not only aide and safety, 
but a party atmosphere to encourage the runners. This year the addition of 
a "lipstick station" right before the finish lines and on the Marathon side 
a small sample beer station.

Towerview Road is coined the "motivation mile" set with the marching band.
See you November 10th 2012!

See you November 10th 2012!

More information on the race is available at www.veteransmarathon.com

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