Events

Veterans Day Parade in Morgantown WV. Come out and salute our veterans and heroes. Parade starts at 6PM on High Street

Contact: Sheila Saab, Public Relations Specialist – Fitness Information Technology
Phone: 304-293-0879, Email: [email protected]

New Book Honoring Veterans Released by Burnsville Native and Ultramarathoner Jamie Summerlin
Book Signing at Burnsville School Alumni Weekend

Morgantown, W.Va. – May 16, 2013 … Ultramarathoner and Marine Corps veteran Jamie Summerlin will present his new book Freedom Run: A 100-Day, 3,452-Mile Journey Across America to Benefit Wounded Veterans during the upcoming Burnsville School Alumni Weekend festivities. Summerlin, a native of Burnsville, will be selling signed copies of Freedom Run at Burnsville School from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, May 24 and throughout the day until 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 25.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit veteran-focused charitable organizations.

Freedom Run tells of Summerlin’s 2012 transcontinental run across America and the heartfelt stories of courage and determination from the U.S. veterans he met along the way. Throughout the book, not a detail is spared. With light humor and great emotion, Summerlin provides the many elements involved in preparing for and accomplishing his journey, as well as some of the milestones and people who shared the experience with him. While many have attempted to run across the country, few have completed it; Summerlin became just the 48th person known to have finished a true coast-to-coast run in America.

Summerlin had another motivation for making his way across the country on foot. As Marine Corps veterans, both he and his wife wanted to recognize the men and women who defend our country. Summerlin captured the attention of individual and corporate sponsors to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project and other veteran-based charitable organizations during his run.

Running an average of 34.5 miles per day, Summerlin began in Coos Bay, Oregon, the hometown of his wife, Tiffany, and collected stories of veterans he met all throughout his 100-day trek to the Atlantic Ocean. Summerlin capped off the adventure with a 100-mile home stretch from Annapolis, Maryland, to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, in less than 24 hours. Overall, he ran the equivalent of 132 marathons during his span from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, energized by the unique experience, the people who supported him, the veterans he met, and their stories. Though countless media interviews and informal chats with bystanders added a bit of time to his pace, Summerlin relished any opportunity to speak to others along his run.

“Any chance I had to share the story of what we were doing also enabled me to give thanks and attention to the veterans that this run was all about,” says Summerlin in Freedom Run.

Former Army PFC and Prisoner of War Jessica Lynch, a fellow West Virginian, speaks of Summerlin’s vision and how others should react to his exemplary respect for our military men and women in the book’s foreword.
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“I am confident that Jamie’s courage was undoubtedly a source of inspiration and strength for all veterans and their families he met throughout the country,” says Lynch. “He will tell you it was just a small sacrifice to honor the commitment of our veterans, many of whom returned broken or did not return at all. But Jamie sacrificed so much to ensure America’s veterans were appropriately honored. He made a life-changing decision and, in turn, he changed so many lives.”

Like many ultraendurance athletes, Summerlin sought assistance from sport psychology consultants and was able to gain tips from several doctoral students at West Virginia University’s College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. The advice kept him focused throughout the many mental and physical challenges along his journey and in anticipation of the postpartum depression that would follow the completion of his run.

“I experienced a sense of depression as I pondered what I would do when I reached the end,” says Summerlin. “It was overwhelming. I knew I had plenty to look forward to, but I couldn’t understand the emotions and I feared they would interfere with the demanding schedule ahead of me. I was glad I took the time to seek assistance from performance specialists.”

To advance his fundraising for veterans and passion for running, Summerlin will tour the country with Freedom Run and participate in several marathons and community races this year. For more information, visit www.freedomrunusa.com.

Freedom Run is published by Fitness Information Technology (FiT) and distributed to the trade by National Book Network. FiT is a division of the International Center for Performance Excellence at the College of Physical of Activity and Sport Sciences at West Virginia University. Learn more at www.fitinfotech.com.

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Contact Sheila Saab for a press kit and additional information about author events and book signings.
Phone: 304-293-0879
Email: [email protected]

sas: 05-16-13

2013 4th of July Parade in Morgantown WV. Come out and salute our veterans and heroes. Parade starts at 5PM on High Street.

Schedule of Events

(all events at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park unless otherwise noted)

11 a.m.           CD Wilson Community Band

3 p.m.             Bike Decorating (parking lot by the Public Safety building on Spruce St.)

4 p.m.             Bike Decorating Contest Judging (parking lot by the Public Safety

building on Spruce St.)

5 p.m.             High Street Grand Parade

6:00 p.m.        Soul Miners Band

7:30 p.m.        Community Awards

8:45 p.m.        Mon River Big Band

Dusk (9:45 p.m.) Fireworks

Monongalia County Fair Parade
Monday July 29th 2013, 7:30 P.M.

• The parade will march down High Street on July 29th starting at 7:30 P. M.
• Lineup will begin at 6:30 P.M.

I am honored to have been selected as the 2013 Mon County Fair Parade Marshal this year! I’ll also have a booth at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Community Center, where Freedom Run books will be available for purchase and signing. We’ll also have lots of information concerning Operation Welcome Home, and our efforts to support all veterans in North Central WV.