Walking for the troops

By Patrick Dickson, Stars and Stripes Mideast edition, Thursday, July 24, 2008 WASHINGTON — There are a lot of individuals doing a lot of things to show their support for the troops, but not many like Mike Cox. The Kirkwood, Mo., native is walking 850 miles, from his hometown to Washington to raise money for two purposes: $35,000 to put new computers in the USO facility at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and $25,000 to help build a Fisher House in nearby St. Louis. Cox has already walked out of Missouri, through Illinois and Indiana and into Ohio. He’s been interrupted by severe weather a few times, as the Midwest endures one of the rainiest years in decades. Cox will start the 428 miles of his last leg through Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia, and into D.C. as weather permits. Walking along Route 50 has not been easy, especially in... [read full story]