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"Mike Bowen will run his 58,282nd and final mile this Friday in honor of the Vietnam veterans who didn’t come home.
Bowen, 65, a veteran himself, has been jogging one mile for every American who did not return from the Vietnam War. This mission has been underway for 31 years, and it’s finally coming to a close in Washington, D.C., this Friday, National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
“It’s gonna feel good to finish. It’s been a life-long mission,” he said. “I’m pretty excited about getting it over with. It’s been great for me, mentally and physically.”
The idea came to him in 1982, when he was inspired by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
“Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another,” Bowen said. “That’s what we do – we make sure that the guys coming home – whether they’re alive or dead or wounded – will be treated with dignity and respect.”
Since then, Bowen has participated in over 50 marathons and 26 road races on top of his usual runs through his local park. Bowen, also affectionately known as “flagman” for carrying his POW/MIA flag with him on each mile, is glad to be running his last four miles at the place where his journey began–the wall.
Many of his friends from high school volunteered for the Vietnam War, but while Bowen was serving in West Germany, eight of his friends died in war. His personal ties to the war factor into his mission–even through rough times. "
"Mike Bowen will run his 58,282nd and final mile this Friday in honor of the Vietnam veterans who didn’t come home.
Bowen, 65, a veteran himself, has been jogging one mile for every American who did not return from the Vietnam War. This mission has been underway for 31 years, and it’s finally coming to a close in Washington, D.C., this Friday, National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
“It’s gonna feel good to finish. It’s been a life-long mission,” he said. “I’m pretty excited about getting it over with. It’s been great for me, mentally and physically.”
The idea came to him in 1982, when he was inspired by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
“Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another,” Bowen said. “That’s what we do – we make sure that the guys coming home – whether they’re alive or dead or wounded – will be treated with dignity and respect.”
Since then, Bowen has participated in over 50 marathons and 26 road races on top of his usual runs through his local park. Bowen, also affectionately known as “flagman” for carrying his POW/MIA flag with him on each mile, is glad to be running his last four miles at the place where his journey began–the wall.
Many of his friends from high school volunteered for the Vietnam War, but while Bowen was serving in West Germany, eight of his friends died in war. His personal ties to the war factor into his mission–even through rough times. "
