WHEELING — When race Director Robert “Scat” Scatterday got the idea to honor veterans with an inaugural torch run Friday to kick off the festivities of the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic, he wanted to open it up to more than just those who have defended or are defending the nation.

He wanted it to also include children in the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk Torch Relay.

As a result, Wheeling Park High School will have 13 student representatives who will take part in carrying the torch on the 6-mile hike from Elm Grove to the start/finish line at the intersection of 14th and Main streets in downtown Wheeling.

The event will kick off the weekend of race-related activities. Following the completion of the relay, the Ogden Tiny Tot Trot will take place, followed by the Ogden Fun Run and Ogden Mile, all on Friday evening. The 20K and 5K runs and walks will take place Saturday morning, followed by awards and activities at the Heritage Port Amphitheater.

“This is the decision to make the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic more local, family friendly and general to the public,” Scatterday said.

The 13 runners will consist of juniors and sophomores who completed an essay. The essay topic was given to the high school with an open invitation. Students were asked to discuss what the military means to them and how carrying this torch was important.

All 13 students who wrote essays were selected to take part in Friday’s torch relay.

“They were excellent,” Scatterday said of the students’ essays. “What made them great was that they were not only from the head, but from the heart.

“A lot of the cases referred to a person with an uncle or dad or grandfather (who served in the military), and it was heartwarming,” he added.

Ryan Beabout, Branden Bellanca, Angela Carey, Roberta Davidson, Gwen Fales, Tim Frank, Jennifer Gutman, Dominick Jebbia, Tomisha Jenkins, Alicia Miller, Stephen Perry, Shane Swiger and Lauren Thomas are the 13 Patriots who will be making the march.

“I was very impressed with their answers, but mostly their awareness level and their maturity,” Scatterday said. “I think the youth of today are excelling in all areas of life. This was a perfect example of that. Kids today are more aware, more responsible, focused and sensitive.

“They are going to be very outstanding leaders of tomorrow,” he noted.

The torch will begin moving at 4:30 p.m. Friday, starting at the Osiris Shrine parking lot in Elm Grove. The procession will head west on National Road, making its way to the downtown. The public is encouraged to line the relay route in support of the participants.

Wheeling Police Chief Kevin Gessler will be the first to carry the flame, followed by other torch bearers including Mayor Nick Sparachane and City Manager Robert Herron. But the biggest cheers could be reserved for the four veterans slated to carry the flame: Lt. Paul Hicks will represent veterans who served between 1991 and the present; Lt. Col. Pat Plunkett will represent the years 1960-90; Tech Sgt. Jim Koonce will represent the 1950-59 era; and Gunnery Sgt. Dale Sigler, a veteran of World War II, will carry the flame for vets who served prior to 1949.

Veterans who served between 1991 and the present are asked to arrive at the bottom of Wheeling Hill at 5 p.m. to join the procession. Veterans who served between 1960 and 1990 should join in at the top of Wheeling Hill; veterans from 1950-59 should join in at Stone Boulevard historical marker; and those who served in 1949 and before should join the procession at the former Lincoln School. All veterans who served before 1991 are asked to arrive at their respective locations at 5:15 p.m.

Veterans and members of their families can participate for free. No sign-up is required. and all participants can wear hats and carry flags and banners.

When the torch arrives at its final destination, it will be carried by Gov. Joe Manchin across the start/finish line.

“I was expecting maybe 50 people, with 21 being runners,” Scatterday said. “The final number came to around 200. We’re hoping that this will be a memorable event not only for the high school students, but for everyone involved.”