Boy carries on Freedom Walk tradition

The 11-year-old organized the first Sebring walk when he was just 9 years old.

SEBRING — Colton Lockner may have moved to Lake Milton but the 11-year-old still considers Sebring as his hometown, and he’s still organizing the community’s annual “Sebring-America Supports You Freedom Walk.”

In fact, he’s organizing two walks this year — Sebring and Lake Milton.

His third Sebring event is slated for 6 p.m. Sept. 11 while the Lake Milton walk, the first for that community, will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 10.

Lockner’s family moved to Lake Milton in January, and he said he wants to share his desire and passion of our military with his new community.

He has enlisted help from the Jackson-Milton schools and some teachers who have helped form committees to put together that event. There will be a meeting at 4 p.m. May 6 at Jackson-Milton Elementary School for anyone interested in helping.

The walks are part of many across the nation scheduled in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and to show support of our military men and women, past and present, for protecting our freedom.

America Supports You, now in its fourth year, is a nationwide program launched by the Department of Defense to recognize citizens supporting our military men and women and communicate that support to members of our Armed Forces at home and overseas.

Lockner, son of Robyn and Gary Lockner, organized the first Sebring walk when he was 9 years old. He organized a second walk last year and said he wants to see the tradition continue.

“Some people have suggested that the enthusiasm of the walk is gone and that a walk is not needed every year, but I think everyone has the right to honor and remember those who have died and those who fight to protect our freedoms,” he said.

The Sebring walks have drawn more than 3,000 participants from all over Ohio and other states, as well as attention from a number of news crews including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and the Pentagon media staff.

This year’s Sebring walk will again follow its original route and begin at B.L. Miller Elementary School, travel south on 19th Street, east on Ohio Avenue, south on 15th Street and finally west on Texas Avenue to the Veterans Memorial at South Side Park for a small ceremony with speakers and musical entertainers.

The Lake Milton event will follow a 1.5-mile route and begin at the corner of Grandview Road and Mahoning Avenue, travel east on Mahoning Avenue over the bridge, north on Northeast River Road and finally east on Milton Avenue to the American Legion for a small ceremony.

Lockner is contacting all area businesses, organizations, church congregations and youth groups asking for help and support. He is trying to raise money to buy T-shirts again this year and pay for advertising materials.

He is also organizing a motorcycle run again this year. Last year’s effort drew more than 100 bikes and raised $500 to help finance the Freedom Walk.

“I put everything together off donations. The speakers don’t get paid, the musical entertainment doesn’t get paid, I don’t get paid,” he said.

Lockner’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

America Supports You has named him a Youth Ambassador and a story about his efforts appeared in the Weekly Reader.

Those willing to help can register and/or send donations to: Colton Lockner, 17917 Lawnview Avenue, Lake Milton, OH 44429. He can also be reached by e-mail at coltonlockner@yahoo.com. Walk details will be posted on his Web site at www.coltonsfreedomwalk.com.