STURGIS, S.D. – At the end of July, a California man made a stop in Sturgis on his way across America on foot – Noah Coughlan finishes his Run For Revival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Saturday afternoon.
This is Noah Coughlan’s fourth trip across the Nation on foot – he previously completed runs in 2011, 2013 and 2015 and wanted to use this opportunity to highlight American military veterans across the country as he transported an American flag from coast to coast. Noah passed through Sturgis on July 27th and 28th, made a stop in Rapid City, on his way through the Rosebud Indian Reservation and down through Nebraska, where he got a phone calls from his family, letting him know that his Dad was dying. Noah’s father, David, passed away on August 10th in Vacaville, CA. Noah flew home and spent a few days with his Dad before he passed.
“It was a double whammy with losing a parent. I was very close with my father, I’m the only son and I just wanted the veterans and the law enforcement to know that combined all of you made a huge difference in my life. That was actually one of our final memories together, looking at pictures from my run, pictures of Montana, Idaho and the Black Hills.”
Noah got back to Nebraska after his Dad’s death and continued the run, then flew home again for his father’s memorial service. Noah credits local law enforcement and veterans that he met along his journey for helping to get him home to spend time with his family during an extremely difficult time.
“You went above and beyond, helping me get home to my family. All of you Veterans and law enforcement, I am in awe. It’s not just your service, but it’s the type of people that you are, what is in you. You are incredible people. I see it from my lens and I’m grateful. I always tell people that when I meet a Veteran I am blown away.”
Noah went through 12 pairs of shoes, lost 20 pounds and three toenails as he crossed through 13 states, from Blaine, Washington to Fort Lauderdale, FL to complete the Run for Revival.
