Munster is getting a little piece of American history on the move Wednesday, October 14 — and no, this one doesn’t involve a parade float or a giant birthday cake.
The American Discovery 250 Relay, a coast-to-coast journey celebrating America’s 250th birthday, will roll (and run, pedal and paddle) into Munster as part of a more than 6,800-mile trek from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic.
The festivities kick off at approximately 10:30 a.m. at the Illinois-Indiana State Line Arch along the Pennsy Greenway. Lansing Mayor Hardy and other officials will hand off the relay baton to Munster representatives, officially bringing the journey into Indiana.
Town Council members, town officials and the Town Manager will take turns carrying the baton through Munster before passing it to members of the School Town of Munster’s middle school and high school cross-country teams.
The student athletes will be the primary baton carriers for the approximately 2.5-mile trip through town. Residents are invited to gather at the State Line Arch to welcome the relay, cheer on the participants and grab a few photos of this uniquely patriotic pit stop.
And this isn’t just any baton. It contains a copy of the Declaration of Independence, giving the relay a little extra historical weight — though hopefully not enough to slow down the cross-country runners.
The relay began on the West Coast in July and will continue across the country by foot, bicycle and kayak before reaching the Atlantic Ocean in Delaware by Thanksgiving. It’s part of the American Discovery Trail’s celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial — that’s the fancy word for a 250th anniversary.
The American Discovery Trail connects communities across the country along the nation’s first coast-to-coast, non-motorized trail. The relay aims to bring those communities together for a milestone birthday that comes around once every 250 years.
Munster’s turn is Wednesday morning, so consider this your invitation to step outside, show a little hometown pride and cheer on the runners carrying a piece of American history through the Region.
Event details: Wednesday, October 14, at approximately 10:30 a.m. at the State Line Arch on the Pennsy Greenway at the Illinois-Indiana border. The public is welcome.
