ROCHELLE – One man from South Dakota is walking across the country to raise awareness for U.S. veterans.

Jerry Meadows is a proud, 65-year-old Vietnam Air Force veteran, who is walking from Bemidji, Minnesota to Jacksonville, Florida to raise funds for the Wounded Warriors Project. Meadows chose the WWP, because it is the only organization he could find that takes care of not only veterans, but their spouses and caretakers as well.

Meadows walks up to 11 miles a day pulling his oxygen tank with him everywhere he goes, no matter the terrain. Even though he struggles with his own health issues and long days of walking can make his body ache, he pushes through to honor his fellow veterans.

“There are veterans out there who have given their life and limb for people that they don’t even know,” said Meadows. “This is the way that I get to pay it back to my brothers and sisters.”

Meadows made a promise to veterans, that by the end of his journey he would have walked a total of 1,245 miles and raised a minimum of $30,000 for the WWP. If he does not reach either of his goals by arriving in Florida, he will not finish his journey.

“If I am even one-tenth of a mile off my mark when I get to Jacksonville, I will go to a high school and walk around the track to make it up,” said Meadows. “My tennis shoes are not coming off until I reach $30,000.”

Meadows is currently walking along Highway 30 and plans to continue that route until reaching Fort Wayne, Indiana. The incoming winter weather system will cause him to stop for a few days, but he has plans to reach Jacksonville by September or October.

Throughout his journey, Meadows has felt an unbelievable amount of support from everyone he has encountered. The local news outlet near Jacksonville even has plans to live broadcast his arrival.

“The support that I have gotten has been unbelievable, the people that pull over and just want a selfie,” said Meadows. “I listen to all of their stories, and that is why I am out there.”

After walking many miles across the country and meeting different people he has really learned to take a step back and appreciate the beauty that this country has to offer. For anybody who would like to donate to the WWP can do so online at http://www.bit.ly/2EdXW26 or by contacting Meadows through email at meadows.tom1@gmail.com or by phone at 641-328-3484. Meadows and his journey can also be followed on its Facebook page by searching road walker journey.