Legion Commander to walk from Pickens County to Charleston

Editor

jevans@pickenssentinel.com

PICKENS - Commander James Holland, a retired US Army Major, is marching once again, this time to raise money for an important cause.

Holland, American Legion Post 212 Commander, will march from the North Carolina state line to Battery Park in Charleston to raise money and awareness for the American Legion's Legacy Fund.

The Legacy Fund ensures that the children of veterans, currently serving members of our armed forces, and those killed while serving their country have the opportunity for higher education, according to American Legion District 6 Commander Phillippe Cournoyer.

"We do everything with that money," he said, adding the money is used to assist families of veterans and those currently serving, in addition to providing scholarships for children.

The Walk for Veterans was Holland's idea, Cournoyer said.

"We look at different ways of bringing attention to the fund every year," he said.

Holland's walk begins on Sept. 11 in Pickens County.

While Holland has pledged to walk to Charleston himself, a distance more than 300 miles, he won't be walking alone, Cournoyer said.

American Legion members from all across the state will be joining Holland as he walks through their counties.

The event will begin between 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Sept. 11 as Holland and the group travel to the NC state line.

There Holland will begin his walk, with vehicles traveling ahead and behind to alert traffic of the walkers' presence.

"We just want to warn people to be alert for walkers, to be patient with us and to support their veterans," Cournoyer said.

Holland's walk into Pickens will include stops at the Holly Springs Store, Bob's Place and Hagood Mill, he said.

As Holland and the group walk into Pickens, Cournoyer hopes Pickens High School Army JROTC cadets will join them in the Ingles parking lot.

"I hope they'll come up the hill to Main Street with us," he said.

The group will then proceed to Legacy Square for a rally sometime between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

"I hope we can have a portion of the high school band there, playing military themes," Cournoyer said.

The rally will also feature a presentation on the Legacy Fund, he said.

On Friday, Sept. 13, Holland and the group will pick up where they left off and walk into Easley on S.C. 8.

A rally is scheduled in the vicinity of Jimmy's Restaurant in Easley sometime Friday, Cournoyer said.

On Saturday, Holland will leave Pickens County as he walks into Greenville on the next leg of his journey.

The trek to Charleston is expected to take Holland 21 days.

There are many ways Pickens County residents can help Holland's mission and the American Legion Legacy Fund, he said.

"We're asking for donations to the Legacy Fund," Cournoyer said.

Donations can be turned into anyone on the Walk for Veterans, brought to the rally at Legacy Square or mailed to the American Legion Legacy Scholarship, P.O. Box 3309, Irmo, SC, 29063.

Donations of bottled water, Gatorade or other energy drinks, granola bars or other snacks would also be greatly appreciated, Cournoyer said.

Veterans and veterans' families can help out by turning out to support Holland and the group, he said.

"We want the veterans to come out," Cournoyer said. "And we want parents who have children to come out and sign their kids up for the American Legion."

In addition to raising money for the Legacy Fund, Cournoyer hopes the Walk for Veterans increases Legion membership.

"There's an awful lot of benefits to joining the American Legion," he said. "We are the largest veteran's organization, bar none."

The American Legion doesn't have a set fundraising goal, he said.

"There's no limit to the amount we want to raise, just like there's no limit to the needs of the children," Cournoyer said. "The more we raise, the more we can amplify their scholarships."