Photo by Scott McCloskey
Representing veterans who served during the Korean War era, 1950-59, Tech Sgt. Jim Koonce carries the flame along Stone Boulevard in Wheeling during the inaugural Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Torch Relay.

WHEELING — West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin might have been the most familiar face in Friday’s inaugural Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Torch Relay, but he knew who the real stars of the procession were — the veterans.

“West Virginia has never lacked courage,” Manchin told a large throng gathered at the end of the procession near the corner of 14th and Main streets in downtown Wheeling. “We have more patriotic people in this state than any other state.

“We have more veterans per capita, have served in more wars and conflicts and shed more blood for the cause of freedom than any other state.”

And members of the public expressed their thanks for the service of those veterans, not only during the governor’s remarks, but throughout the procession as a sea of red, white and blue-clad participants flowed through the streets of Wheeling.

The relay began at the Osiris Shrine in Elm Grove with Wheeling Police Chief Kevin Gessler taking control of the flame. He was joined by his daughter, Kari, as well as retired Wheeling police officer Frank Kuca Jr. and Manchin, who, to the surprise of relay organizers, started out running instead of riding in his designated vehicle.

As the procession turned left onto Kruger Street and made its way toward National Road, men, women and children cheered and applauded the group. There were also a few horns honked now and then.

Manchin continued running as Wheeling Park High School students started to carry the flame, but he retreated to a golf cart carrying members of the media as the procession made its way under Interstate 70.

Park students who carried the torch were: Ryan Beabout, Angela Carey, Alicia Miller, Roberta Davidson, Gwen Fales, Jennifer Gutman, Lauren Thomas, Stephen Perry, Tim Frank, Dominick Jebbia, Branden Bellanca, Shane Swiger and Tomisha Jenkins.

Manchin, who underwent knee surgery last July, said he felt good.

“I’ve done a lot of training, but I’ve never really jogged on it yet,” he said.

As the procession continued toward the entrance to Wheeling Park, Manchin expressed his gratitude to relay organizers for inviting him to participate.

“I’m so honored to honor all the vets and all of the people that served and those that are still serving,” he said. “Wheeling does a great job, and we are very appreciative of this. Wheeling has gone beyond the call of duty now in doing this with the torch and all of the other festivities.”

It was at Wheeling Park where City Manager Robert Herron accepted the torch.

The procession moved down National Road to additional cheers as it reached a more residential area. One young girl, serving bottles of water in front of her home, could be seen saluting the runners as they whisked by.

Wheeling Mayor Nick Sparachane was handed the torch near Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church. He was joined by his children — Nick and Angela.

Manchin resumed running at this point and stayed with the procession until it reached Mount de Chantal Road.

A short time later, the relay took a short breather near the bottom of Wheeling Hill before Lt. Col. Paul Hicks and veterans representing the years 1991 to the present joined the procession.

Lt. Col. Amy Bishop joined the relay at this moment. She said she was running in honor of her dad, a World War II and Korean War vet, her brother and her husband.

“It’s great to have this opportunity,” she said.

Hicks and his fellow vets and their family members were joined in the trip up Wheeling Hill by Herron and Sparachane.

As the procession arrived at the top of the hill, Hicks handed the torch to Lt. Col. Pat Plunkett. He, along with other runners from the Vietnam era, continued the procession with Manchin and Sparachane joining in.

The ever-increasing group got larger near the historical marker on Stone Boulevard, where the torch was given to Tech Sgt. Jim Koonce, a Korean War vet.

“It was outstanding, it really was,” Koonce said after carrying the flame. “As I walked along, I got a really good feeling. On the street, no one knows who you really are, but when you’re in a parade they really appreciate you.”

Koonce and other veterans and family members of vets that served between 1950-59 led the contingent down Lincoln Street, where moments later Gunnery Sgt. Dale Sigler and representatives of the World War II era joined in.

Manchin joined Sigler and the other veterans at the front of the group, which eventually made its way into downtown Wheeling.

The crowd at the start/finish line near WesBanco Arena cheered as the group made its way onto 14th Street off of Chapline Street. And when the procession reached the corner of 14th and Market streets, the 249th West Virginia Army National Guard Band joined the parade, playing patriotic music and getting the crowd in the holiday mood.

When the relay reached the start/finish line, the National Anthem was sung and Manchin addressed the crowd. This was followed by the playing of “Taps.”

R. “Scat” Scatterday, race director and a Vietnam veteran himself, summed up the relay in three words:

“It was amazing.”