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WHEELING --Main Street in Wheeling became the road to Washington, D.C., Wednesday night as a cross-country relay honoring America's 250th anniversary carried an American flag across the historic Suspension Bridge from Bridgeport into the Friendly City, where runners were greeted by a crowd of well-wishers before continuing east toward the nation's capital.
The Relay for America traveled through Jefferson and Belmont counties before runners crossed the bridge into downtown Wheeling, marking one of the relay’s final stops before continuing east through Pennsylvania and toward the nation’s capital.
The relay began June 14 at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and covered 3,016 miles over 20 consecutive days. More than 250 runners participated, passing the same American flag hand-to-hand across the country without stopping as it moved through cities, mountains, deserts and small towns 24 hours a day.
Each of the relay’s 3,016 miles was dedicated to a U.S. military veteran, with runners completing one-mile segments before handing the flag to the next participant.
The relay was created by endurance runners Joe Nail and Wyatt Moss, who met in 2024 while each pursued the challenge of running 50 marathons in 50 states. As the nation’s 250th anniversary approached, the pair envisioned a coast-to-coast relay carrying the American flag from the Pacific Ocean to the National Mall, but instead of relying on a single runner, they opened the effort to hundreds of participants.
Organizers called the effort the “People’s Relay,” describing its mission as “Uniting Americans, one mile at a time.”
According to organizers, the event was planned in about two weeks by a small volunteer team. More than 1,100 runners applied to participate, over 300 volunteers signed up to crew the relay and participants represented 46 states.
The relay followed three major sections across the country. After crossing the western United States, it traveled through America’s heartland along the U.S. 40 corridor before entering the Ohio Valley. Wheeling served as one of the relay’s signature landmarks as runners carried the flag across the Suspension Bridge into downtown before continuing east.
The relay was scheduled to conclude July 4 beneath the Independence Day fireworks over the National Mall in Washington, D.C.