WHEELING – Some military veterans brought their four-footed furry friends to cheer them on during The Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend Half Marathon Classic.

Cullen Clark of Morgantown was accompanied by his dog, Goose, as he prepared for the event.

“This is my first half-marathon. I’m just trying to do it in under two hours. That’s the goal I set for myself. I’ve done one 5K. I did it a couple weeks ago and I just kind of want to do it, and I think it’s cool that I’m doing my first one on Memorial Day. I’m a veteran also,” he said.

Clark is in the Army National Guard.

“I deployed overseas about three years ago, to the Middle East,” he said.

He welcomed the chance to see and meet other veterans and said he was heartened by the patriotism on display.

“I see these people running with flags and stuff and it’s pretty awesome that they’re doing that with the rucksacks and everything,” he said. “It’s a great way to honor those who have given everything for this country.”

Another veteran was Ron Ward of New Concord, Ohio, as a spectator cheering on his girlfriend, Rochelle Yurick of Akron.

“She’s a big marathon runner. She runs every other weekend she finds something. She runs all over the Ohio Valley,” he said.

He was accompanied by service dog, Marco, and fellow canine, Peanut.

“(Marco) was in the military with me, so he’s a three-year combat veteran,” Ward said. “I’m a 26-year combat veteran.”

Ward also commented on the showing of veterans.

“I’ve run into quite a few veterans. They see the patches on my service dog,” he said. “I know for a lot of people including myself it’s a very hard weekend for a lot of us that’s lost friends and family and stuff in Iraq, Afghanistan, but to see people out here celebrate their lives and the sacrifices that they made, this is amazing to see so many people come out.”

Another veteran running the half-marathon was Marine Nathaniel Turner of Neffs, Ohio, who served from 2015-19. His friend and fellow Marine David Monge of Bellaire was cheering him on along with his dog, Axel.

Turner said this was his first time at the Wheeling event.

“It’s a good time. I’d definitely do it again,” he said. He said the show of support and remembrance for service personnel killed in action was encouraging.