Run supports Wounded Warrior Project

In Bridgeport, Neb. tomorrow many will gather and run in support of United States military veterans and those still serving.

The Bridgeport Police Department has teamed up with staff at the Prairie Winds Community Center to host a program of events on Saturday, May 4 to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a nonprofit organization aimed at “honoring and empowering” soldiers that have been wounded while protecting and serving the U.S.

According to WWP officials, the purpose of the organization is to “raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.”

City of Bridgeport Police Officer Luke McGinley is new to the city’s police force, but not new to the United States military.

He helped plan for the event along with others in his police department and staff at the community center, and said that his team is excited for tomorrow.

“This is the first year we’ve done it,” he said. “I’m new to the PD here, and when I got here the police chief, Scott DeCoste, wanted to do something for the military. He didn’t really have any ideas, but he knew he just wanted something for the military.”

McGinley previously served four years in the United States Marine Corps and was familiar with WWP.

“I talked to him about the Wounded Warrior Project and that idea came up,” he said.

According to J.W. (Jack) Berg, Mayor of Bridgeport and a member of the community center staff, Saturday events are to run as scheduled: at 8 a.m. there will be a Local Veterans Appreciation Assembly and Color Guard presentation, at 8:30 a.m. there will be the “Outrun a Cop” 5K run/walk, at 9:30 a.m. there will be a free pancake feed, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be a bicycle rodeo.

All events will be held at the Prairie Winds Community Center, and the race will also start there.

McGinley said that the beginning assembly is to honor those who have served and are still serving.

“I’m not sure yet how many veterans will come out, but I’ve tried to reach out to many organizations like the VFW and American Legion, and also individuals within the community that I know are military,” he said. “Any veteran is more than welcome.”

McGinley said that the assembly will start with a flag ceremony featuring the honor guard from the American Legion. Then the National Anthem will be sung, short speeches will be given, and an ending prayer will commence.

“Saturday is to reach out to the families and individuals that were formerly serving or are serving now in the military,” said the police officer. “If it wasn’t for everybody’s sacrifices we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

The “Outrun a Cop” run/walk will commence after the completion of the assembly.

McGinley said that this event is to both raise support and awareness for the WWP, but also to familiarize citizens with the police department.

“Another thing we wanted to do was to design something that was a law enforcement-friendly-type situation with the public,” he said. “We wanted to allow the public to come meet us and come talk to us and not be on bad terms.

“That’s the bad thing with law enforcement; most of the time when you are dealing with us it’s not on good terms,” said the officer. “So this deals with the law enforcement aspect and raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project.”

McGinley said that “Outrun a Cop” is the event’s catchphrase, but law enforcement will be both running and walking.

“We’re going to have a lot of people walking and a lot of people running,” he said. “We’re going to have law enforcement running as well as walking in order to enrich that public feel that we’re out there for everybody.”

Mayor Berg said that interested participants can call or stop in at the community center to register for the run. Registration for adults is $25 and for children between the ages of 12 and 16, registration costs $20.

Each participant will receive a t-shirt and information on WWP.

After the race, participants can rejuvenate themselves at the free pancake feed offered at the community center.

According to the mayor, the pancakes are being donated by Country Catering and money donations will be welcomed for WWP at any time.

After the pancake feed will be the bike rodeo. The event is put on by the police department and will offer bike safety awareness to parents and kids in the parking lot of the community center.

Berg said that he thinks this is a great event for the city of Bridgeport and a great effort for helping veterans.

“I don’t think we do enough, and we can never do too much for our veterans,” said the mayor. “I think this is a great project and it’s nice that the police department decided to put this on.

“I think they got quite a few entrees and are getting more all of the time. So hopefully it will turn out to be a good benefit to that charity,” he said.