Published Tuesday, October 06, 2009 6:05 AM

Airmen embark on 821-mile memorial trek

Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO -- A dozen airmen plan to trek 821 miles over the next 11 days to commemorate 12 special tactics airmen who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The airmen will leave Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio early Tuesday and relay through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama before reaching Hurlburt Field in Florida on Oct. 16. That morning, the Air Force will hold a ceremony honoring an airman killed in Afghanistan in February.

The marchers will walk 15 to 20 miles at a time, carrying 50-pound ruck sacks and commemorative batons engraved with a fallen airman's name.

Organizers hope to raise awareness of Air Force specialties like special ops and a foundation that helps assist the families of the fallen.

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