GUNNISON: United We March is approaching its fifth annual Gunnison Gut Check with a slate of activities planned for Sept. 9-10.
Gut check participants cross the finish line at previous years’ event.
Gunnison’s race, dinner, auction and fundraiser will take place this year under the theme “United in Service.”
“Remember the unity of Americans after 9-11-2001?” said event coordinator Justin Mellor. “We’re working hard to bring it back and strengthen it.”
Mellor said that division affects us all negatively and that we can be the greatest generation of our time by serving together in all aspects of culture, belief and diversity as Americans. “We can’t be our own worst enemy,” he said.
The Gunnison Gut Check is growing in participation and relevance every year.
For runners crossing the finish line, the race is a personal thing. For all the people who give their time, money and work to put on the patriotic event, it’s all about teamwork, Mellor said. The event is something that the community and everyone needs.
Last year, the fundraiser raised more than $100,000 to go toward charities and service projects for veterans, law enforcement and organizations fighting veteran suicide. There were 230 participants who took part in United We March.
Each year, Mellor said, the committee responsible for selecting the main focus of the event voted to honor Vietnam veterans for 2022.
“We want to welcome them back to the home they never got by showing our honor, respect and gratitude for them,” Mellor said. “There is a brotherhood that as civilians we can never understand. They are an integral and strong part of our lives and liberties in the United States of America. They answered the call to fight against evil and oppression and were witnesses of a piece of inhumanity they will never be able to forget.”
The Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall, new this year, will be at Gunnison Park September 8-11 for all to see.
On the wall are the names of 58,318 men and eight women, all of whom answered the call to fight communist oppression in Southeast Asia to preserve the lives of the South Vietnamese and who paid the full price by working to fulfill this task
Once again, Big Betsy, the largest American flag in the country, will anchor the patriotic procession down Main Street, which will begin at 5pm on Friday at 300 South Main.
Personnel from fire departments, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians, the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office and veterans will march to show appreciation to all of our first responders and local and state veterans, Mellor said.
After the procession, dinner will be served at Gunnison City Park. After dinner, there will be a motivational speech by Dennis Carroll, a veteran Vietnam A4-F Skyhawk pilot.
The auction will begin at 7pm with several donated items up for auction, including a tiny house. You can see the house at 250 North on the east side of Main Street across from Veterans Memorial Park. The house was built by inmates from the Central Utah Correctional Center and Snow College Building Trades.
Saturday morning will kick off with a flag ceremony at 6:20 a.m. with Miss Gunnison, Noelle Condie, singing the national anthem before sending the Gut Checkers on their journey.
Gut Check runners will start with the Full and Half Gut Checks starting at 6:45am and the Mini Gut Check at 8am.
Another new feature is the Patriotic Car Show, which takes place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is $20 and additional cars are $10 each. Prizes will be awarded to the best cars and a Best of Show Rossi Rio Bravo 22 LR 18” 15-RD lever action rifle will be awarded, which was donated by Mike Wanner Construction.
On Saturday, there will be vendors all day, food trucks and Funtime Inflatables with bounce houses, laser tag, rock wall, mechanical bull and boxing ring. All-day wristbands will be available for $25 on site.
Mellor said the involvement of citizens, children, families and everyone who shows up and shows their love for veterans, law enforcement and first responders is what he loves most about this event.
“We raise money and give it to charities that we believe in and have seen how their efforts help these people who are under every service,” Mellor said.
For more information and race registration, visit http://www.gutcheck.itsyourrace.com.
