FORT BELVOIR, Va. (June 14, 2012) -- Soldiers and a military working dog escorted the Special Olympics torch through Fort Belvoir as part of the annual Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run, June 7.
Fifteen members of the 212th Military Police Detachment, the Directorate of Emergency Services, and Headquarters Battalion escorted the torch through the installation.
"Basically, we're going to make sure the torch gets through Fort Belvoir, out through Tulley Gate, so we can support the run," said Master Sgt. Anthony L. Brinson, Directorate of Emergency Services operations noncommissioned officer.
The torch arrived at Walker Gate at around 12:45 p.m. The four-mile run through the installation took participants onto Mount Vernon Road, where they then took a right onto Hurley Road as they made their way towards Belvoir Road, where they made a left on 12th Street toward Pohick Road and through Tulley Gate.
Participants enjoyed being part of the event.
"It felt really good, especially being able to support something like Special Olympics," said Spc. Jamie-Lynn Franks, 212th Military Police Detachment, police officer. "It's about supporting the community, and not just in the form of writing tickets."
Franks also recognized the difficulties children with special needs face, "but when people support them, it makes their situation that much easier to deal with."
The run started at the Iwo Jima Memorial, near Arlington National Cemetery, earlier in the day. It culminated with the Torch Run Final Leg, and the lighting of the cauldron, to officially open the Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games in Richmond, Va., June 8. The 1,900-mile, eight-day Torch Run involved more than 2,000 law enforcement officers and personnel representing more than 200 law enforcement agencies across Virginia.
"Law enforcement is a big supporter of the Special Olympics," Brinson said. "With the Summer Games coming up this year, and you've got Special Olympics picking up, what better way to start off summer than to run to support the Special Olympics?"
For more information about Special Olympics in Virginia, go to www.specialolympicsva.org/View/Page/About_Us.
Editor's note: Justin Creech contributed to the reporting of this article.
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