Marine commits to cross country trek for veterans
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HUNTINGDON, Tenn.– Gunnery Sgt. Roy Brady is a retired veteran who served in the Marines for 22 years. He said after he retired, he simply got bored and one day decided he was going to walk from coast to coast to raise money for fellow veterans. “What I wanted to do is give back to those guys, especially to the mothers and fathers who lost someone in combat and the guys who came back pretty much wounded,” Brady said. Brady started his trek March 1 in Charlotte, N.C. He said his journey will take him nearly 2,500 miles and all the way to the front gate of Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Cal. Brady is lugging around a 60-pound backpack with the Marine flag draped around the back. He said the extra weight doesn’t bother him, especially after two tours in Iraq and tours in Japan, Australia, the Philippines and several other countries. Brady has a lot of stories to share, and he doesn’t mind being stopped on his walks to talk to those interested in what he is doing. “When they do that it takes my mind off of walking, so come up to me or honk a horn. I have plenty of time to talk to you,” Brady said. “I really have nothing but time.” Brady said he hopes to raise $35,000 for the Combat Wounded Warrior Challenge.
Like any good story, Brady already has his ending planned out. “I’m going to say the famous line as soon as I get over there — ‘So I guess I’m tired. I’ll go home now,'” Brady said. If you would like to donate or follow Brady’s cross country walk, visit combatwounded.org/walk.
