Team Long Road finishes journey

​A trio of Marines that hiked across America using Historic Highway 20 is home after a near-seven-month, 3,365-mile journey that took them through Butler County in September.

​Justin “JD” LeHew and Coleman “Rocky” Kinzer, retired USMC Sergeant Majors taking on the moniker of “Team Long Road”, departed from the USS Constitution in Boston Harbor on June 6, 2022 and arrived in Newport, Oregon on Saturday, Dec. 17. Along the way, Staff Sergeant Ray “Shino” Shinohara, joined them on Aug. 18 in Elgin, Illinois.

​The team went on the cross-country journey to raise awareness and support for America’s soldiers Killed in Action, Missing in Action, Prisoners of Wars and Gold Star Families, among other causes.

​The length of Highway 20 is meant to represent the long journey home for the 81,000 missing United States service members since World War II.

​“The rucksacks we carry represent the heavy burden carried by generations of warriors who have served in our nations ranks since 1775,” their website description reads, “as well as the weight of a nation that we carry in combat to live up to the promise that we will never surrender and never leave a fallen comrade behind.”

​In September, their journey brought them through South Butler County, including stops in New Hartford, Parkersburg, Aplington and Austinville.

​For more information on Team Long Road, visit teamlongroad.com or search The Long Road on Facebook.