Newton locals ruck for veterans

On the afternoon of Nov. 23, two groups of 13 people met in the parking lot of the Newton Walmart to complete the handoff of the University of Iowa game day football for the University of Iowa veterans Association, “Things They Carry Ruck March” to promote awareness of veteran suicide.

“The Things They Carry” relay groups marched from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, leading up to the Iowa-Nebraska college football game. Everyone in the group carried at least 22 pounds in honor of the average of 22 veterans who take their lives each day.

The first group marched from Mitchellville to the Newton Walmart. Chad Schilling of Newton was among this group.

The next leg, which had three Newton people in the group, took the flag left from Newton to Malcom. U.S. Army Spc. Donald Sutton, Spc. Stacy Sutton and retired Sgt. Lance Hawley.

The Suttons made the trek in memory of Donald Sutton, Darwin Stoner, Dewayne Stoner, and Floyd Springer, all of whom served and have recently passed away. Hawley did the march in remembrance of Scott “Boo Boo” Baraibar.

The entire group was doing amazing and making great time, however, the group was approaching Dead Man’s Curve just West of Grinnell, where the ruck coordinator decided to suspend the march and bring them to Dekalb Manufacturer to get warmth food and water. At that moment, nine of the 13 decided to depart.

The three Newton locals only had one person continue from Grinnell with them to complete the final seven miles to Malcom, They finished in Malcom at 8:30 p.m.

The three Newtonians rejoined the march in eastern Iowa on Nov. 25 to finish the final leg, which ran from Coralville to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.

More can be learned about The Things They Carry Ruck March on the organization's Facebook page or its website.