Support a Troop on Iron County’s Annual Make a Difference Day

Published: October 16, 2007 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Southern Utah University’s Service and Learning Center will sponsor a 5k walk/run for Iron County's annual Make A Difference Day on Saturday, October 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial on the Coal Creek Trailhead, 200 North 200 East.

The event, “Our Troops Rock,” is designed to show support for the 700 Utah military personnel serving in the 116th Engineer Company and the 145th Field Artillery Unit. Participants will carry a small rock with the name of one of the troops written on it. At the conclusion of the race, the rocks will be used to make a temporary monument.

All 5k participants will receive a t-shirt and will also be entered in a drawing for prizes. No entry fee is required to run or walk, however, a $10 donation is suggested. Proceeds from the event will help fund Holiday care packages for Utah troops.

Those choosing not to participate in the race can still participate in service opportunities for this special day with opportunities to write letters to Utah troops, sign cards and banners and assemble care packages as Christmas gifts for military personnel.

Hot chocolate and popcorn will be provided. In addition, there will be music, an open mic and random prize drawings throughout the morning.

A flag ceremony will ensue at 10:30 a.m. followed by a patriotic program where both a recently returned soldier as well as the wife of a deployed solder will speak to the crowd.

Students from SUU’s Communication Department will be filming the event and will produce a DVD that will be mailed to troops along with banners, cards and packages created during the activity.

Make a Difference Day Event Schedule:
• 8:00 a.m. – 5k check-in
• 9:00 a.m. – race begins
• 10:30 a.m. – Program (flag ceremony, national anthem, guest speakers)
• 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – write letters, sign cards and banners and/or assemble Holiday care packages for military personnel

All activities are free and open to the public. Proceeds from the event will fund Holiday care packages for the troops. While participants can register for activities at the actual event, they can also pre-register at The Volunteer Center of Iron County or SUU’s Service & Learning Center in the Sharwan Smith Center, 435.865.8335.

---

Contact Information:

435-586-5400
Contact the Office of Marketing Communication