Pictured from left are Sgt Maj Justin LeHew, Larry Freligh, Dave Bower, Don Carvello, Ed Lanphere, Gary Ruch, Bob McIntosh (and his service dog, Chesty), and Sgt Maj Coleman Kinzer. Submitted photo

RIPLEY — Five hundred eighteen miles down, 2,847 miles to go.

That’s how far sergeant majors Justin “JD” LeHew and Coleman “Rocky” Kinzer had come when they reached Ripley after leaving Charleston, Mass., on June 6, in their trek across America.

LeHew and Kinzer are walking across the “longest road” in America, U.S. Route 20, which spans the nation from Boston to Newport, Ore., to bring awareness to the nation’s 81,000 still missing in action since World War II and to raise money for History Flight, a nonprofit dedicated to find, identify and return the remains for proper burial of U.S. servicemen and woman. More than 160 service members killed in Europe and the Pacific have been returned so far. The remains of 350 others are waiting to be identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

LeHew explained how he and his team have discovered the remains from cold cases extending back to the Vietnam War.

“It’s like putting a puzzle together,” he said. “Fitting the pieces together can be a daunting job. We find them through DNA. When you roll out a 92-year-old sister whose brother’s remains are returned from World War II, it’s priceless.”

The pair arrived in Ripley at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13, to be greeted by a small crowd of 20 residents. Six of Ripley’s retired servicemen were anxious to meet LeHew and Kinzer to show them the Ripley Veteran’s Roll of Honor monument, which lists more than 900 men and women from Ripley who served in all the branches of the United States military.

“It’s great to see things like this (monument). Small towns are the best,” LeHew said after a long look at the list of names, both living and dead, who served.

LeHew, a 32-year veteran, and Kinzer, who served 24 years, saw the “hike” as an opportunity to continue to serve after their retirements from the Marines. They have spent tens of thousands of dollars of their own money to finance this trip. However, all donations made along the way go directly to History Flight to continue their work to bring soldiers home.

Follow their progress at facebook.com/groups/698444134910085