Veterans Group Takes Final Walk To Honor Jacob Wetterling
ST. JOSEPH, Minn. (WCCO) -- Another chapter in Jacob Wetterling's story came to a close Saturday, as a group who started a walk in 1989 to bring the 11-year-old home made their final trip.
"Just imagining how [my wife] and I would feel or cope, I wanted to do something," Mike Clark, a Vietnam War veteran, said.
After Jacob's abduction in October 1989, Clark turned to a newly formed chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America in Anoka to raise awareness of Jacob and missing children. The group walked 61 miles from Anoka to the Wetterling home in St. Joseph just before Christmas that year.
At the time, Clark was 43 years old and had an 11-year-old son, the same age as Jacob.
The group would go on to walk on the fifth, 10th, 15th and 20th anniversaries. Today, Clark is 70 and the chapter has lost some of its members that participated in the walks over the years. Because of Clark's health issues, Saturday the group could only go 1 mile for the last walk.
"We thank you for us being able to do this walk one last time," one veteran said, as he lead the group in prayer at the start.
The veterans walked from the site of Jacob's abduction to the Wetterlings' home. When they arrived, the veterans presented Patty and Jerry Wetterling with "Jacob's Hope Flag," the same flag they've marched with since the beginning.
"You guys taught us so much about never giving up," Patty said. "It's amazing, it makes me cry."
While the walk started out of a tragedy, the day ended with a lot of laughter, as the Wetterlings and veterans shared cookies and coffee, reminiscing on the very first 1989 walk. They shared stories of kids, grandkids and great grandkids.
They also share the pain of losing loved ones.
"Our walking for you, this has helped me personally and other guys," Clark said.
It's the kindness of strangers, as these veterans once were, that gives the Wetterlings hope.
"It's a sad occasion. We're commemorating Jacob being gone in a sense, but just being with them was always uplifting," Jerry said.
"Hope is empowering," Patty said. "We've lived through a lot of things and it's hope that's carried us."
