As marathon runners Joe Nail and Wyatt Moss were completing a challenge to run a marathon in all 50 states, they began formulating a plan to hold a nationwide flag relay. This plan became the Relay for America, a 20-day relay where over 250 runners will carry the American flag from San Francisco, California, to Washington, D.C. It is expected to end on July 4 at the Capitol Building as the fireworks are going off.
The men created the Relay for America to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and encourage national pride, Nail told The Federalist. “We set out with one overarching mission, which was uniting Americans one mile at a time,” Nail said. “We’re trying to get people to celebrate their country and feel inspired while bringing together people from all walks of life.”
The relay is open to the general public to participate in, whether it be by running, driving, or helping with operations. Nail told The Federalist that Moss wanted to open the event to the general public as part of their shared mission of bringing people together, rather than only allowing a small set of elite runners to participate.
Those watching from home can tune in by watching a live feed of the flag’s process as it makes its way across the country. With around 75 percent of the relay complete, the live tracker shows pacing statistics indicating that the runners are ahead of schedule to arrive on time on the 4th of July.
Each mile of the 3,000-mile track is dedicated to a different veteran. Names of veterans are being collected through the website, where people can submit the name of a loved one to be honored during the race.
Nail, Moss, and the Relay for America team have received an outpouring of support on social media since the race began, Nail told The Federalist. In one instance that Nail said was particularly impactful, a U.S. Army soldier preparing for his second deployment emailed the organization, thanking them for their support and love for America.
“Those are the sorts of messages that make it all worth it,” Nail told The Federalist. “That was definitely what we had in mind when we first started out.”
The Relay for America has grown significantly on social media since the challenge started. The group’s Instagram and Facebook pages have each grown from under 2,000 followers to over 50,000 as Americans learn and share their story.
