Old Glory Relay to pass through Albany today

By Sam Waller

The 2023 Old Glory Relay will pass through Albany Thursday, May 4 (today), on its way across the country.

The Old Glory Relay is a coast-to-coast trip with military veterans carrying a U.S. flag.

“Over the last several years, an organization called Team Red White & Blue has done this relay across the country,” event volunteer Andrew Pohlmann said. “It typically starts on the west coast and makes its way over 40 or 50 days.”

This year’s event started on April 1 at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, and traveled through Oregon and California before turning east. The 50-day trip will travel through nine states before finishing May 20 in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Every day has a route. Some days, it’s short where walkers, runners, or even people in wheelchairs move the flag along,”
Pohlmann said. The route I’m in charge of is all cyclists.”

The leg passing through Albany is the 34th and longest of the relay, approximately 130 miles from Abilene to Weatherford. There are 13 legs covering more than 100 miles, including five in a row since the relay left El Paso. The group is expected to arrive in Albany about 9:00 a.m. today.

“We’re starting out at the VFW post in Abilene (Post 6873) with participation from Dyess Air Force base for a nice sendoff,” Pohlmann said.

From Weatherford, the Old Glory Relay will proceed through northeast Texas into Arkansas and Tennessee before reaching Georgia.

According to the organization’s website, teamrwb.org, the Old Glory Relay is a national movement showcasing the strength, grit, and commitment of American veterans in support of their wellbeing.

“The point of Team RWB is to raise funds for veterans, helping veterans with physical and mental wellbeing,” Pohlmann said. “That’s the life mission for Mike Erwin, the founder. The thousands of people who participate in this do it because they’re veterans, but they also raise money for Team RWB along the way.”

While not a veteran himself, Pohlmann, who works in marketing for Guaranteed Rate in the Dallas area, has a connection through his brother, George, who recently retired from the Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel. In addition, Pohlmann’s wife, Denise, is driving one of two support vehicles with their daughter Izzy serving as the group’s official photographer.

“There are about five people in my group,” Pohlmann said. “Some, like myself, will ride the whole distance, and others will do 20 or 30 miles. Our role is to get the flag to Weatherford.”

Pohlmann said stops are planned at American Legion posts along the route and the National Vietnam War Museum at Mineral Wells.