For the last four years, downtown Franklin was packed with more than 1,000 runners the morning of Memorial Day.
They came dressed in patriotic red, white and blue, ready to run or walk one mile through the city. The race served as a lead-in for the city’s Memorial Day service, giving families the opportunity to come together for a community event to remember the true meaning of the holiday.
That won’t be the case this year. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of the race, but organizers still want to embrace the spirit of the event.
"So many people are saying it has been a tradition, and while they’re a little disappointed, they understand. They’re looking forward to doing it on their own and being back bigger and better next year," said Chad McCullough, founder of the event.
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The Memorial Day Mile has transitioned to a virtual event, with families encouraged to get together to run or walk a mile sometime this week leading up to Memorial Day. Organizers have put together 1-mile courses throughout the county that people can reference, or run a mile-long course on their own. Participants are encourage to take photos and post them on social media using the hashtag #2020MemorialDayMile.
All participants from 2019 will receive free shirts and medals this year, and those who are taking part for the first time can also get free shirts.
McCullough knows it’s not the same tradition as what people are used to. But he hopes that it helps families connect even from a distance, and provides some momentum heading into next year’s event.
"There’s a wrinkle in what our expectation was for 2020, but when we come out of it, what do we want to have happened," he said. "If we can keep momentum in the event, and if we can continue to give families something meaningful to do to connect them to Memorial Day, that’s the underlying goal of the event. So let’s help them do that."
The Memorial Day Mile is a nonprofit organization founded in 2015, when organizers envisioned a family-friendly event to serve as a lead-in for the annual Memorial Day service on the courthouse lawn. With fewer and fewer people taking part in the service, the goal was to get people — particularly families and children — more involved, McCullough said.
The event has steadily grown in the last five years, and more than 1,000 runners and walkers took part last year.
The race has always been focused on bringing people together. But starting in 2018, the first virtual race was held. Angela White and her four children ran the race while her husband, Indiana National Guard member Dennis White, ran simultaneously while stationed in Kuwait.
That inspired organizers to open up the virtual component to everyone. A vast majority of local people still came to Franklin to run, but people from as far away as Canada learned about the event, and signed up to take part.
So in a way, they were already prepared for this year’s predicament, McCullough said.
"Two years ago, it was kind of an impromptu virtual race. It’s turned into the whole thing is virtual this year," he said.
Because they pre-order the shirts and medals for the event well in advance, organizers had them available even as it became clear the race would have to be canceled. They would have had to give them away at some point anyway, so why not pass them out to people who have participated in the past, McCullough said.
Participants from 2019 who want a t-shirt and medal this year will be able to grab their packet during a socially distanced pick-up from 2-5 p.m. Friday or 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.
"People who have done it in the past are already connected to the event. And we should have enough extra for the small number of people who would be new for 2020," McCullough said.
Just as they have in past years, backgrounds will be set up so people can take commemorative photos in their shirts, McCullough said.
He is also encouraging people run a mile with their families. They’ve uploaded maps with mile-long courses on their Facebook page, including the official route the race took last year, courses along the Franklin Greenway Trail on the east and west sides of the city, and past Craig Park in Greenwood.
"If we’re trying to encourage that, let’s give people the opportunity to know where a mile is. They may have a route on their own, but at least we can help them figure that out if it’s a hurdle," McCullough said.
With a focus on the 2021 race, organizers are hoping that people can donate or contribute to Memorial Day Mile to help offset the costs of the shirts and medals. A link on the organization’s website will allow people to donate online, and a station will be set up accepting donations during the shirt pick-up.
Newcomers to the event can also register for their virtual race on the event’s website.
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Memorial Day Mile
What: An annual 1-mile community race helping families come together for the holiday. This year’s event has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers have put together a virtual event.
How to participate: People can continue the Memorial Day Mile tradition and walk or run a mile with their family sometime during the week leading up to Memorial Day. Tag your social media posts with #2020MemorialDayMile. Organizers have posted maps of 1-mile courses in Franklin, Greenwood, and Shelbyville at fb.com/MemorialDayMile.
How to get a shirt: Those who participated in last year’s race can receive a free t-shirt and medal for the 2020 event. Pickup will be 2-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday in the parking lot on South Main Street, Franklin, just south of the courthouse.
How to sign up: Those who didn’t do the race last year can still sign up this year by going to MemorialDayMile.org.
Donations: To support the race in advance of next year, donations may be made at MemorialDayMile.org. A donation table will also be set up at packet pickup.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation or postponement of a number of Memorial Day events. Here’s a rundown of the changes to this weekend:
Crosses on the courthouse lawn: The annual tradition of placing crosses with the names of county residents who have died in military service will continue. The crosses are currently up at the courthouse.
Strawberries on the Square: Rescheduled for July 31
Franklin Lions Club Spring Fish Fry: Canceled
Veterans of Foreign Wars Poppy Sales: Canceled nationally all weekend
Greenlawn Cemetery flag placement: The ceremony, organized by American Legion Post 205 in Franklin and scheduled for Saturday, is canceled. Flags will be available, and cemetery staff will help individuals place the flags between 9 a.m. and noon.
Flag placement at Rocklane Cemetery and Mt. Pleasant Cemetery: A small number of volunteers will be placing flags starting at 8 a.m. Monday. The public ceremonies at the cemeteries are canceled.
Franklin Memorial Day service: The service originally scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday on the courthouse lawn is canceled.
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