Marine Veteran Honors Firefighters Who Died On 9/11 With 343-Mile Walk

A Marine veteran is on a special mission to remember the firefighters who died September 11, 2001.

With Tulsa firefighters backing him up, Lance Robinson left Wednesday for a 343-mile walk of honor from Tulsa to Dallas. It's one mile for each firefighter who died 12 years ago--343 miles for 343 lives, marked by 343 flags placed along the way.

"Their sacrifice for this nation will never ever go unnoticed," Robinson said.

Each flag bears the name of a firefighter who paid the ultimate price on 9/11.

"I don't think you'll find any other individuals on this day that is doing what Lance is doing," said Tulsa Fire Captain Chad Miller.

Miller was among those who helped christen Robinson's honor walk.

"I don't think there are words to describe it, you could try 'gratitude' and 'honor,'" Miller said.

But honor and gratitude are part of something much bigger for Robinson. In the last three years, the Marine veteran has pulled the 50-pound patriotic cart, packed full of clothes and supplies, for thousands of miles.

"I have visited 30 states already," Robinson said.

Over the next two years he plans to hit every state in the continental US.

Reporter Grant Sloan: "Where did you get the idea to walk, where did that come from?"
Lance Robinson: "Honestly, God."

Robinson said, during the solitude, he gains strength though prayer and reflection, along with the kind words of those he meets along the way.

"Tears in their eyes, embracing, prayers, pats on the back and handshakes," Robinson said.

Robinson's plan is to cover roughly 15 miles a day, stopping at fire stations along the way. He doesn't have aspirations to break any records, just to make sure the sacrifice of those who protect us isn't forgotten.

"With the faith and belief in the Lord above, we can conquer any mountains," Robinson said. "And this is one heck of a mountain."

Marine veteran Lance Robinson hopes to wrap up his 343-mile trip to Dallas by the beginning of October, but his journey across the country will be far from over. From there he will drive to Amarillo, Texas, and then begin a 300-mile walk to Albuquerque, New Mexico.