Iraq Veteran Hikes Illinois for Military Families

CHICAGO, May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Iraq veteran Troy Yocum has reached Illinois in the first month of his 7,000 mile "drum hike" across America for military families. The 16-month journey, which began in Kentucky, crosses 25 states and 25 major cities to "drum up" donations, support and awareness for families needing financial assistance. Funds raised will be distributed through military support nonprofit Soldiers' Angels, which has a number of project supporting veterans and their families.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100518/DC06616 )

Yocum's motivation and motto is "Never Walk Alone," something that Yocum believes too many families of veterans have had to do.  "In the last couple years, thousands of military families have been applying for financial assistance," he says. "And there's just not enough money being donated to help them."  Drum Hike aims to change that.

The Illinois leg of Yocum's Hike began yesterday in Chicago, where he marched with the firemen's union and Axe-men.  From May 18 through June 6 his route will roughly follow Interstate 55, stopping in towns along the way to St. Louis, such as Clinton and Heyworth.   Young Marines will join Yocum in Peoria, and Boy Scouts will hike the last leg into St. Louis.  He will also return to Chicago on the 28th and 29th for the Memorial Day parade and to celebrate the opening Friends of Fisher House Illinois at Hines Hospital.

Throughout his Drum Hike, Yocum will carry a custom Louisville Slugger baseball bat for mayors and governors to sign, assisting the Soldiers' Angels' bid to declare Oct. 26 "Day of the Deployed," a national day of honor.  Yocum will present the bat to the White House on May 11, 2011.

Yocum is live-streaming his journey, presenting a video blog and interviewing U.S. veterans on DrumHike.com while tracking his progress on Google Earth.  Patriotic Americans are encouraged to greet Troy along his route or develop troop support events in conjunction with his arrival by visiting DrumHike.com or emailing [email protected].

Established in 2003, Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families through a wide variety of hands-on projects and volunteerism. For more information, visit www.soldiersangels.org or call 615-676-0239.  Tax ID# 20-0583415

SOURCE Soldiers' Angels