Enjoy a short video - Oregon to Chicago

This morning our first team was able to run through the beautiful cities of Portland and South Portland with a police escort. Peter McVane stayed the whole way with our runners on his motorcycle making sure that they were safe and well seen. Also helping through some of the route were Paul Lambert and Joe Escabek in patrol cars. Having police escorts through cities adds more credibility and respect to our runner as he runs with the Torch with only goodwill and hope for all. We thank our escorts for adding to that hope.

They were also joined at one point by a very enthusiastic reporter from ABC channel 8 TV. Spending about a half hour with the runners, he was totally inspired and enthusiastic and was able to capture the spirit of our run with his professional journalism. This also means a lot to us and the message we try to share to as many people as we can.

Polly Goodyear, our wonderful coordinator in Maine, came to greet us with lunch from D’Amatos, a local deli chain store in town. The food was great and Polly just self-givingly offered us as much as we wanted to eat and drink. She has worked very hard in helping us get through this portion of our trip with ease as she has set up many great meetings, escorts and meals for us.

Polly also set up a wonderful ceremony for us in Scarborough at Camp Ketcha, a Campfire Boys and Girls Club. Liz Tully Camp Director and her lively staff members organized a wonderful group of over 100 children to greet us near the ourdoor stage in a huge playing field behind the buildings. Tom Doherty, the Executive Director was also present to enjoy the long program which included introductions, questions and answers, songs, skits by our team and some of their members as well, a ‘Harmony Train’ serpentine run around the field and a large circle of passing the Torch around for hundreds of new wishes for a more positive world.

TV 8 again came to cover our story here which including lots of enthusiastic staff participation from the Camp. We are tremendously grateful when so many adults and professionals join in with us and the children in creating such amazingly positive energy in our attempts to share our hopes and dreams for a more harmonious world.

Some of our runners, along with Polly, stopped in Saco to visit Mayor Mark Johnston. He has greeted us many times as we pass through his town and share the Torch with him. We are always very grateful to people like Mayor Johnston who continually offer their supportive words and presence as we pass through their town year after year.

Our evening meal was offered to us at Stephen and Dianne Brandon’s of the Baha’i Faith and Green Acres School in Eliot. Many people came together for a very inspiring evening of food and inspiration including Tracy and April Johnson, Cheryl, Ann, Jacquelyn, and Larry. I may have forgotten a few names, but we never forget all the hope and joy that they all gave us, as well as the great food which they all prepared and offered. Everyone there offered deep and sincere sentiments for our journey as they understood very well why we are running with Torch in hand and harmony in our hearts. They are also doing the same in their lives in their own inimitable and creative ways.

We camped out for the night at the Shel-Al Campground. Thanks to Ed and his daughters Shelly and Allison, we enjoyed a comfortable camping space for our tents and camper. They have always been generous and kind to us in offering us this space in their lovely campground with great facilities including high speed wireless internet service to send this report to our website.

Team Harmony, U.S.A.

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