Thursday morning at 8 a.m. area law enforcement took up the torch, literally, and ran through the county with sweat and determination.
This weekend the state’s Special Olympics will be held in Richmond and the runners carrying “The Flame of Hope” are winding their way to the capital city for the occasion. Yesterday, the torch arrived in New Market and was run by Rockingham County and Harrisonburg officers.
This morning, police from Harrisonburg, Rockingham County and the Virginia State Police, along with three Special Olympic contestants, led the torch from downtown Harrisonburg to Verona, a distance of 22 miles.
At 11:30 a.m. the torch was passed to Staunton police officers, who will continue the route to Richmond.
Three Special Olympics athletes run in the front when the group arrives in Staunton.
Participants in Thursday’s run pose for a photo by HPD photographer Allen Litten.
Staunton police take the torch in Verona, running south on Rt. 11.
