The American Discovery 250 Relay stopped at the Illinois-Indiana State Line Arch along the Pennsy Greenway on Wednesday morning during its fourth-month, 6,800-mile coast-to-coast journey.
To commemorate the cross-country relay traveling from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, Lansing Mayor Brian Hardy and other officials passed the relay baton to Munster Town Council President Joe Hofferth and Vice President Chuck Gardiner while bikers, walkers and bystanders cheered them on.
Following the official hand-off, the baton passed to members of the School Town of Munster high school and middle school cross-country teams, who delivered it to the campus of Munster High School amid the fanfare of the school choir singing patriotic music. The runners would hand off the baton at the Highland border.
Hofferth said it was proud moment for Munster in participating in such a patriotic national event.
“It’s about history, freedom and spirit — all the things that connect citizens and make this a great nation,” he said. “It’s an honor to carry the baton to the next community and carry that spirit forward.”
Among locals biking along the relay route were Munster residents Sharon and Mike Mayer.
“We started here in Munster and plan on riding along to near Griffith and back, about 15 miles,” Sharon Mayer said. “I think relay is an important way to understand our democracy and support this endeavor celebrating our nation’s 250th year.”
The relay continued Wednesday through Northwest Indiana’s trail network, traveling through Griffith, Merrillville, Hobart, then heading northeast to Chesterton to experience the Indiana Dunes before concluding in North Judson.
The American Discovery 250 Relay kicked off on July 4 on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California with the aim of reaching the coast of Delaware by Thanksgiving. Relay participants are completing the journey by foot, bicycle and kayak while carrying the commemorative baton containing a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
The relay is part of the American Discovery Trail’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday, which is intended to bring communities together along the nation’s first coast-to-coast non-motorized trail.
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The south Chicago portion of the relay included stops in Frankfort, Matteson, Park Forest, Glenwood, Lynwood and Lansing this week. Wednesday’s approximately 100-mile trek started at the Cook County Forest Preserve’s North Creek Meadow where Lynwood Mayor Jada D. Curry ceremonially transferred the relay baton to Mayor Hardy, who then delivered it to Munster at Illinois-Indiana border on the Pennsy Greenway trail.
It was a special occasion for Lansing in that is has now been officially designated the first Trail Town in Illinois. Accordingly, the village is recognized for its connection to the American Discovery Trail network and its role in welcoming pedestrian and bike travelers.
The American Discovery Trail goes past numerous historic sites, through dozens of ecosystems and it is hosted by hundreds of communities. The 35-year-old route passes through lands and trails overseen by numerous state and local agencies and organizations in 15 states.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.