BRIAN GEERTS #vetflagrun

BRIAN GEERTS - I come from a long Family line of Veterans. My dad retired from The Air Force, my older brothers joined the Marines and Navy, and my stepdad was in the Army. I have a strong sense of patriotism and felt the need to serve my great country. I joined at 17 and needed my Mom’s signature. I was Infantry (Anti-Tank Assaultman) and was stationed in California and Okinawa, Japan and traveled to Panama and South Korea. I also worked in Range Maintenance for a year, which allowed me to attend college. While there, I was a member of the Honor Guard, where I participated in numerous Veteran’s funerals, including some from World War One. Four years ago, I saw a guy walking from Florida to all State Capitols carrying a US Flag. I thought at that time, I wanted to do something like that to raise awareness and money for Veterans that Suffer. After a few years that were difficult personally, and meeting and after meeting a veteran run across iowa in a gas mask, I’m finally following through on my idea. I’m “Stepping for Veterans that Suffer” with Post Traumatic Stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and face demons in their everyday lives. I’ve had friends that have taken their own lives. I know others I served with, as well as those I didn’t serve with, that struggle in their everyday life. I have applied for Non Profit status with the IRS and State of Iowa, but since that can take 13 months to get approved. I have, in the meantime, partnered up with OPERATION ENGAGE AMERICA to be able to get donations. They were started by two couples that each lost their Soldier sons to Suicide. From 5/25/18 to 6/9/18, I will be running/walking across Iowa. I will go at least 22 miles per day and cover 373 miles or so. Others have committed to do the whole route with me. We are all doing this out of our pocket. All money raised will be forwarded to OPERATION ENGAGE AMERICA, a 501(c)3 non profit organization.