Man honoring the troops arrives in Irvington

The village of Irvington Thursday welcomed an Idaho man who is walking cross-country to honor the more than 4,100 soldiers who have died in the Iraq war. Damien Maynard is walking a mile for every soldier

News 12 Staff

Aug 22, 2008, 12:36 AM

Updated 6,061 days ago

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The village of Irvington Thursday welcomed an Idaho man who is walking cross-country to honor the more than 4,100 soldiers who have died in the Iraq war.
Damien Maynard is walking a mile for every soldier killed. He says the idea to honor the fallen just came to him one day. ?I started in Carson City, Nev., 2,810 miles ago on Dec. 17, 2006,? he says.
During his journey, Maynard carries 45 pounds of gear that includes an aluminum pole topped with an American flag. He says he has made a point of stopping at military bases during his travels, where he has collected various patches and other insignia - gifts from military personnel and their families.
Maynard says his family has been very supportive during his time away though his 5-year-old daughter has gotten antsy.
?My daughter says, ?I want you home now? and I told her I couldn't be home now so she says, ?How about one minute?? ? he says. ?She's getting anxious for me to be home.?
Maynard says the next stops in his trek will be New York City and then Washington. However, he didn?t leave the village before being treated to lunch by the Irvington Police Department.
To see more about the Idaho man walking to honor slain Iraq war soldiers, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.